Holi or the Festival of Colours is just around the corner, all set to usher in a colourful spring after the austere winter and promising to bring the colour of joy and passion in our humdrum life. But before you start preparing for the traditional colour splash, have you got all the ingredients to make it a green Holi?
Holi colours industry was pegged to
touch Rs 4,500 crore in 2012-13, according to an analysis by the Associated Chamber of Commerce and Industry of India (
Assocham), and the numbers are sure to go up this year. Interestingly, the
Indian market has also witnessed a growing demand for hazard-free herbal colours. The market for
herbal dyes is estimated to be growing at 30-40% annually although the products are a bit expensive.
While a chemical-free colour plunge is the most desirable and eco-friendly way of celebrating Holi, you must walk through the market once to find out what’s in store. Broadly speaking, you will find three types of
chemical colours here – powders, pastes and wets or liquid ones. Most of these are chemical/synthetic dyes, containing substances such as
oxides,
heavy metals (lead, chromium, nickel and cadmium),
acids,
alkalis,
powdered glass and
mica dust – all supremely harmful for your skin, hair and eyes.
The powders mostly have
toxic colorants and an asbestos/silica base; the pastes have a mix of toxic compounds and inferior quality oils and water colours include strong alkalis. No wonder we get itches, rashes, redness and swelling after a thorough colour soak, a colour-filled balloon attack or a terrific
pitchkari fight. Also, darker shades like red, blue and green have high levels of chemicals, metal oxides and industrial dyes, which are used to provide thick texture. Shiny colours can also contain powdered glass.
10 chemical colours that can harm you
If you revel in rainbow hues and mostly buy synthetic colours, here’s a harm list for your ready reference.
1. Abeer/Gulal: Popularly believed to be the least harmful of all chemical colours, this one contains a whole lot of mica dust that can cause
skin irritation and other infections. This
powder colour is available in many hues including red, pink, green, yellow and magenta.
2. Red & pink: These colours have mercuric oxide and rhodamine B; both can cause
eye irritation,
skin cancer and more.
3. Blue: Has
Prussian blue that may cause contract dermatitis.
4. Green: Contains copper carbonate/copper sulphate; this may cause severe eye
allergy or even temporary blindness.
5. Yellow: Features auramine, which may cause eye and skin allergy, as well as respiratory and
digestive tract irritation.
6. Orange: Contains chromium Iodide, which is toxic to blood and liver.
7. Violet: Has methyl violet; this can be carcinogenic and may cause severe eye irritation.
8. Purple: Contains chromium iodide; this can also be carcinogenic and may cause
asthma or allergy.
9. Silver: One of the components is aluminum bromide and it is also known to be carcinogenic.
10. Black: Contains lead oxide, which may cause renal failure and learning disabilities in the long run.
Go ‘natural’ to stay safe You can either buy herbal dyes or use home-made colours, which are clinically safe and totally
environment friendly. The herbal variant is now easily available in the market and uses components such as flour, henna or arrowroot powder as base, and vegetable dyes to add colour. But before buying them, make sure they are non-carcinogenic, lead-free and lab-tested for safety.
You can also prepare
Holi colours at home as you get some excellent colorants from certain flowers and plants. All you need to do is dry and powder them or soak/boil them in water. Add a little scented oil and eco-friendly Holi colours will be ready for use. Take a look at the 8 exotic colours you can prepare at home.
1. Ruby Red: Prepare red sandalwood powder/paste or mix it in plenty of water and boil for
liquid colour. You can also crush dry red hibiscus flowers and boil it in water. Peels of red
pomegranates or twigs of madar tree produce a vibrant red when boiled in water. Otherwise, put carrot or tomato juice in plenty of water to take the stickiness out and use it.
2. Turmeric Yellow: This one is the easiest to make. Mix turmeric or
haldi powder with double the amount of
besan to prepare a vivid yellow powder. Flowers like marigold and yellow chrysanthemums can also be dried and crushed to obtain different shades of yellow. To produce liquid colours, mix any of these powders in plenty of water and boil it.
3. Profound Pink/Magnificent Magenta: Soak sliced beetroot in lots of water for 12 hours or so before using the liquid.
4. Sunny Orange: Put
tesu or
palash flowers (flame of the forest) in water and soak overnight. Or boil them in water for a vibrant yellow-orange shade.
5. Emerald Green: Dried and powdered henna leaves will work best. For wet colour, soak the henna leaves overnight or prepare a paste of spinach/coriander/mint, and mix it in water.
6. Turquoise Blue: Jacaranda and blue hibiscus flowers can be dried, powdered and used.
7. Dark Brown: Boil tea leaves or coffee powder. Let it cool before using.
8. Charcoal Black: Boil dried
amla in an iron vessel and leave it overnight. Mix with water and use.
3 tips for a ‘safe’ Holi
1. Say ‘no’ to colours: Especially pastes and liquid colours, as these tend to stain the skin deeper and last longer. Avoid colours altogether if you are suffering from asthma, eye or
skin infections, or any other chronic disease.
2. Cover yourself well: The more you do that, the less exposed you will be to harmful chemicals. Wear full-sleeve dresses and don a pair of sunglasses to protect your skin and eyes. Apply baby oil, cream or waterproof
sunscreen lotion on your skin – so that the stains will get off easily.
3. See your doctor: Don’t neglect post-Holi syndromes like skin or eye irritation. A mild anti-allergic and soothing skin lotion should be able to fix it, but severe allergy,
chemical burn or
retinal damage cannot be ruled out either. See your doctor as soon as you can and start proper treatment.
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