Holi Celebration with Nature’s Alternative Colours

by Help Us Green March 1, 2024

With the arrival of spring comes the celebration of the festival of colors. This Hindu festival celebrates the divine revelation of Radha and Krishna’s love for each other. We celebrate this festival by putting colors on each other and creating a vibrant and joyous atmosphere, much like the two deities did back in the day.

However, there is a growing consciousness and concern over the type of colors used for celebrating Holi these days. The colors that we use today are chemically infused colours, which were popularised by the commercialization of the festival celebration. These colours have a negative impact on the skin and the environment. This has led many people to go back to eco-friendly alternative colors that are organic for the Holi celebration so that the festive season remains fun, safe, and respectful.

Are you wondering what could possibly be the harmful effect of chemically infused colours and other alternatives for celebrating Holi? Continue reading to find out!

Section 2: Harmful Effects of Chemical Colours

Most of the colours that we purchase for Holi celebrations often contain harmful substances like lead, silica, mica, etc. These chemicals pose a significant threat to an individual, like skin irritations, allergies, eye problems, respiratory issues, and even more severe conditions like kidney failure.

To top it all off, the harmful effects of synthetic colours are not limited to humans. They even have an impact on the environment. Their polymer structure composition is such that it makes it rather difficult to decompose biologically. This results in soil, water, and air pollution. If you want to dive deep into the difference between synthetic and organic holi colours, check out our blog - organic holi colours vs synthetic holi colours.

Given the health risks and environmental impact associated with synthetic Holi colours, more safer and eco-friendly alternatives are not a want but a necessity at this point. So, let’s explore the eco-friendly alternatives, shall we?

SECTION 3: Eco-Friendly Alternatives Colours

A. Plant-Based Colors

Firstly, you have plant-based colours. These are made from flowers, leaves, and natural sources. Being 100% organic, they do not tend to have a negative impact on humans and the environment. Organisations like HelpUsGreen collected discarded flowers found around temples and lakesides to produce organic colours. You can buy the organic colours separately or celebrate Holi with our carefully curated Holi Hampers containing several other goodies like chandan tika, jaljeera masala, thandai mix, paan shots, t-shirt, shower gel, and body oil.

B. Homemade Colors

Do you know you can make colours at home? Well, you can! That too from your everyday kitchen ingredients. Making colours at home can add a personal touch to your Holi celebration. It can help to ensure yours and your loved ones’ skin safety and preserve the environment too. Homemade colours are gentle on the skin, avoiding irritation or allergic reactions often caused by chemical-laden alternatives. Moreover, their organic composition ensures easy decomposition, minimising environmental impact.

C. Waterless Holi

For many, Holi celebrations without water seem incomplete. Throwing water balloons, buckets of water, or even using a hose pipe to throw water at your friends and family is a common practice. However, this practice leads to a lot of water wastage. To prevent that from happening, consider celebrating Holi without water. It is another eco-friendly way to celebrate Holi. You won’t only save water but reduce the risk of injury involved by playing with water. Instead of using water, you can play Holi with HelpUsGreen’s 100% organic colours.

D. Phoolon ki Holi

Another way you can celebrate an eco-friendly Holi is by playing “Phoolom ki Holi”. This celebration can be traced back to its roots in Vrindavan. The Banke Bihari temple in Vrindavan celebrates this unique kind of Holi on the Ekadashi, before Holi, where only flowers are used to play with each other. People use flower petals from various flowers like marigolds, roses, etc. It is believed that celebrating in such a manner establishes a strong connection with God, and it brings God joy as he is showered with flowers.

But can you imagine the amount of flowers that will be wasted? With HelpUsGreen’s 100% organic colours curated from the same flower petals that you throw, you can establish a much richer and stronger connection with God by preserving the resources God has gifted us all.

SECTION 4: Benefits of Eco-Friendly Holi

Now that we have discussed the ways in which you can celebrate Holi eco-friendly, let’s move on to the benefits it has to offer.

Reduced health risks and skin-friendly alternatives: Eco-friendly Holi colours are made from natural ingredients found in nature, like flowers, vegetables, and herbs. When the colours are made from these ingredients, they carry the healing properties they hold in their natural state, resulting in them being gentle on the skin. It can help you avoid health risks caused by synthetic colours.

Positive impact on the environment and ecosystems: Holi celebrations generate huge amounts of waste, which leads to air, water, and soil pollution. To prevent this from happening, using natural colours made from flowers, vegetables, and herbs is a must. These colours tend to be biodegradable and don’t have such a negative impact.

Contribution to a sustainable and responsible celebration: Celebrating Holi in an eco-friendly way promotes a sustainable way of life, which is quite essential to preserve the planet for future generations. This way, we can show our love and respect for nature and give the festival a new meaning and purpose.

Section 5: Encouraging Others to Join

Finally, being alive in today’s time means you have a responsibility to your friends, family, and the environment. So, raise awareness about eco-friendly Holi alternatives and encourage others to join! Celebrating an eco-friendly Holi is not only safer but also more sustainable. You can share this joy by hosting an eco-friendly Holi party where you can use HelpUsGreen’s 100% organic, NABL-certified, and skin-friendly Holi colours. Use these handmade colours to paint unforgettable memories this festive season!