Myriad hues of reds, greens, indigos and crimsons bring an aura of zest and fervour during the joyous festival of colours, Holi. Blooming flowers, bright sunshine and pleasant weather conditions make this season the perfect time to colour the atmosphere with fun filled Holi colours.
Unlike other festivals, nobody cares about branded clothes, matching accessories and make-up. However, one thing that does and should matter to all of us is the quality of the colours being used. We shouldn’t forget that a day of incautious fun may result in a lot of skin trouble later.
Yellow Colour
Take two teaspoons of Turmeric powder (haldi) and mix it with 4 teaspoons of gram flour (besan). Both these ingredients have magical effect on the skin.
Instead of gram flour, you can also use ordinary flour (atta), wheat flour (maida), fuller`s earth (multani mitti) or even talcum powder.
Several flowers like Marigold, Cassia fistula and Yellow Chrysanthemums, can be dried and crushed to obtain a fine powder. Use this powder, mixed with an appropriate quantity of besan or its substitutes and witness your festival of colours come alive.
Green Colour
Take pure henna powder (mehendi), mix it with an equal quantity of gram flour to get a lovely green colour. The henna powder should not have Indian Gooseberry (Amla) mixed in it as it will render a brownish colour.
Dry henna does not leave any colour on the face or body but who cares about left over colour in holi. After all ‘holi hai bhai holi hai, buran a mano holi hai’.
Pink Colour
Take one beetroot, grate it and soak in 1 litre of water to get a wonderful magenta colour. You can also boil the mixture and dilute it before use.
Alternatively, boil onion peels in water for a pinkish colour. Make sure to remove the peels before using them.
Blue Colour
Take dry Jacaranda flower, better known as neeli gulmohar, grind them and get a beautiful blue powder. Blue Hibiscus can also be used in the same way.
You can also use simple indigo for a true blue colour. Though indigo powder is readily available in the market, it is advisable to take dried Indigo leaves, grind them and make the colour.
Red Colour
Red Sandal Wood powder has been used for time immemorial for skin problems. It renders a bright red colour and can be used as red Gulal. Saffron can also be used for an orangish colour.
Brown Colour
Take equal quantities of tea and coffee powder to make brown colour. First mix it in hot water and then take the soaked leaves in a muslin cloth, tie it and dip it in some more hot water. Keep repeating the process for the desired amount of colour.
The video below will explain how to make yellow, pink, brown, orange and blue colours.
Ruthless commercialization in last few decades have led to the spread of hazardous Holi colours. Nowadays, Holi has lost its true meaning. Holi was originally known as a festival of clean and homemade colours. We cannot bring a tremendous change but can at least protect our children and environment around us.
