The demand of eco-friendly Holi colours is rising

People across India celebrate Holi, the festival of colours. More and more people are becoming aware of the affect of synthetic colours on body and environment and are opting for a more traditional manner of playing Holi, using gulaal. This has led to an increased demand of organic colours. 

The craft of gulaal

The making process of herbal colours are as you can imagine environmental friendly and are extracted from natural ingredients such as flowers, leaves, fruit peels etc.

While most dyes and colours used during Holi are produced in factories using synthetic products, these natural colours are handmade by women. They use traditional methods to create the most vibrant powders from flowers, fruits and trees from their surroundings.

Orange is made of dried marigolds and flame of the forest (palash). For yellow turmeric is used. To make pink, the women use roses and add beetroot for a darker shade.

The women go in the morning to harvest flowers and plants to extract their pigment and create handmade powdered dyes from scratch – a method passed on from generation to the next. Once the flowers and plants have been cut and separated; these are boiled to extract the colour. The liquid pigment is then mixed with rice flour, corn flour or gram flour to create a powder texture. Next it is set out in the shed to dry. The laborious process of making gulaal takes days, turning beautiful flowers into powered colours of happiness. 

Making your own organic Holi colours
Jyotsna Pippal shared her DIY organic colour recipes on her website. Make each day of your life a festival. Fill beautiful colours in it and live it to the fullest.

Powdered Hibiscus flowers

What is Holi?

Holi is about new beginnings. This ritual signifies burning of inner demons of negative thoughts, hatred, jealousy, enmity and revenge. Holi is one of the most colourful Hindu festivals. Also known as the ‘festival of colours’. It signifies the triumph of good over evil. It’s the day to forgive and make peace with everyone around us. Holi also marks the arrival of spring, beginning of harvest season and the end of winter.

Image credits 
Indian Express
Jyotsna Pippal