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<keyword id="6355460" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Holi">Holi</keyword> 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? <keyword id="2132784" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Holi-colours-industry">Holi colours industry</keyword> was pegged to <keyword id="30450" type="ENTERTAINMENT" weightage="80" keywordseo="Touch">touch</keyword> Rs 4,500 crore in 2012-13, according to an analysis by the Associated Chamber of Commerce and Industry of India (<keyword id="6355988" type="CITY" weightage="80" keywordseo="Assocham">Assocham</keyword>), and the numbers are sure to go up this year. Interestingly, the <keyword id="47445" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Indian-market">Indian market</keyword> has also witnessed a growing demand for hazard-free herbal colours. The market for <keyword id="2132783" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Herbal-dyes">herbal dyes</keyword> 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 <keyword id="586078" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="chemical-colours">chemical colours</keyword> here – powders, pastes and wets or liquid ones. Most of these are chemical/synthetic dyes, containing substances such as <keyword id="2132786" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Oxides">oxides</keyword>, <keyword id="6395221" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="heavy-metals">heavy metals</keyword> (lead, chromium, nickel and cadmium), <keyword id="1322867" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="acids">acids</keyword>, <keyword id="2132787" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Alkalis">alkalis</keyword>, <keyword id="2132789" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Powdered-glass">powdered glass</keyword> and <keyword id="2132788" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Mica-dust">mica dust</keyword> – all supremely harmful for your skin, hair and eyes. 
 The powders mostly have <keyword id="2132790" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Toxic-colorants">toxic colorants</keyword> 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 <keyword id="2132798" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Pitchkari">pitchkari</keyword> 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 <keyword id="100486" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Skin-irritation">skin irritation</keyword> and other infections. This <keyword id="2132796" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Powder-colour">powder colour</keyword> is available in many hues including red, pink, green, yellow and magenta. 
 
2. Red &amp; pink: These colours have mercuric oxide and rhodamine B; both can cause <keyword id="1654686" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="eye-irritation">eye irritation</keyword>, <keyword id="28956" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="80" keywordseo="skin-cancer">skin cancer</keyword> and more. 
 
3. Blue: Has <keyword id="890372" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="80" keywordseo="Prussian-blue">Prussian blue</keyword> that may cause contract dermatitis. 
 
4. Green: Contains copper carbonate/copper sulphate; this may cause severe eye <keyword id="6450271" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="allergy">allergy</keyword> or even temporary blindness. 
 
5. Yellow: Features auramine, which may cause eye and skin allergy, as well as respiratory and <keyword id="2132814" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Digestive-tract-irritation">digestive tract irritation</keyword>. 
 
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 <keyword id="6465125" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="80" keywordseo="asthma">asthma</keyword> 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 <keyword id="6356826" type="COMPANY" weightage="80" keywordseo="environment">environment</keyword> 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 <keyword id="583108" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Holi-colours">Holi colours</keyword> 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. <keyword id="2132779" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="80" keywordseo="Ruby-Red">Ruby Red</keyword>: Prepare red sandalwood powder/paste or mix it in plenty of water and boil for <keyword id="2132794" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Liquid-colour">liquid colour</keyword>. You can also crush dry red hibiscus flowers and boil it in water. Peels of red <keyword id="92372" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="Pomegranates">pomegranates</keyword> 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. <keyword id="2132806" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Turmeric-yellow">Turmeric Yellow</keyword>: 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 <keyword id="624291" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Skin-infections">skin infections</keyword>, 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 <keyword id="74032" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="80" keywordseo="Sunscreen">sunscreen</keyword> 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, <keyword id="2132809" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Chemical-burn">chemical burn</keyword> or <keyword id="2132810" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Retinal-damage">retinal damage</keyword> cannot be ruled out either. See your doctor as soon as you can and start proper treatment. 
 
Image credit: Thinkstock Photos/Getty Images

Usher In The Festival
Of Colours; Gear Up For A Chemical-free Holi

A week into the <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/video-shows-israeli-armored-vehicles-gaza-ahead-ground-invasion-hamas-2023-10">bombardment</a> of Gaza, I set up a WhatsApp group for my Palestinian family to confirm each morning they're all still alive. "Could everyone sign in?" This morning, I got no response. An hour and fifteen minutes passed. Then, a message from my sister, Yasmeen, in Gaza City. The power had just come on and she had a brief window of WiFi. An hour later, my niece and nephew, Ne'ama and Hammoud, messaged from the south. Between the three of them, we could account for 32 other relatives. Another day, and, at least for a moment, I could relax. Though I was born in Gaza City and lived there until I was 28, I've spent the last decade moving between Europe, Jordan, and finally Turkey with my husband, Abdullah. We now live in Istanbul with our 3-year-old daughter, Juju. Even before Oct. 7, we used WhatsApp to stay in touch. "The war started, and Abeer is still sound asleep," read the message I woke up to that first morning.As my sister Siham had thought, I was sleeping when news broke that <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/why-israels-ground-invasion-if-gaza-hasnt-happened-yet-hamas-2023-10">Hamas</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/hamas-offered-10k-apartment-israel-hostages-captured-militant-video-israel-2023-10">militants</a> had crossed into Israel, killing, we would later learn, 1,400 people, and <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/freed-israeli-hostage-kept-spiders-web-underground-tunnels-hamas-gaza-2023-10">taking</a> more than 200 <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/israeli-hostage-freed-hamas-militants-elderly-woman-grandmother-gaza-israel">hostages</a>. As I tried to absorb the news and images from Gaza — where my parents, five sisters, four brothers, 15 nieces and nephews, and most of my extended family and in-laws still live — my phone flashed again. It was a voice message from my close friend Yazmina, another Palestinian in Istanbul. Her voice was shaking: "Abeer, our families, what will happen to them?" I have survived three <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/israel-hamas-us-funds-aid-weapons-war-military-spending-congress-2023-10">wars</a> in Gaza, witnessed many escalations and cross-border conflicts, and covered most of them as a journalist. But I knew immediately that this time was different. A massive revenge was coming to Gaza — a territory that's roughly 25 miles long and 6 miles wide, and home to some 2.2 million people, almost half of them under the age of 18. In the days and weeks since, I've been glued to Al Jazeera, squinting at the TV to make out buildings I recognize from my regular visits, and to my phone, which both brings news from my loved ones, and where I share whatever <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/why-israels-ground-invasion-if-gaza-hasnt-happened-yet-hamas-2023-10">information</a> I can find to help keep them safe. The close calls started immediately. <h2>Where is safe?</h2>The person in the most obvious danger was my sister, Fatin. Fatin, a Hebrew/Arabic translator, lives in the Al-Burij camp, very close to the Israeli border, and she's the only one outside of Gaza City. Of all my siblings, Fatin and I are closest. Just a year apart, we both studied English language at university and we got married the same year, when we were both in our 30s — late by Gaza's standards. She had evacuated immediately, along with her husband and two babies, Maria and Ascia, and her in-laws. Two days later, Fatin heard from neighbors that her house had been completely demolished in an aerial strike. When her husband returned to see if anything could be salvaged from the rubble, it was heartbreaking for him to see the girls' dolls and clothes thrown in the street. From Istanbul, Abdullah and I watched on Al Jazeera as places with cherished memories in Gaza City were destroyed live on air. We watched as dozens of buildings were flattened to the ground in Al-Remal, Abdullah's old neighborhood. Abdullah's family house was one of them, but thankfully, just hours earlier, his parents had evacuated to the home of Abdullah's brother in the Tal Al-Hawa neighborhood. As I watched these beautiful houses fall, I asked myself how demolishing entire neighborhoods can be a punishment for Hamas? I still don't know the answer.<div type="image" title="A woman takes shelter under a staircase." height="699" width="1024" msid="104737068" hostid="261"></div>Supplies of fuel, electricity, and water had stopped coming into Gaza. Soon, Gaza's main power plant switched off. In Gaza City, you could hope for an hour of power a day to get WiFi and to charge the power banks for cell phones. My relatives kept their phones on at different times, so to reach one I'd have to call multiple numbers. My parents live in a five-story building in the middle of Gaza City that my father had built 40 years ago. My four brothers — Hussam, Hazem, Alaa, and Hatem — live there too, along with their families, all in separate apartments. Soon, my aunt arrived with her husband and her son's family, after fleeing their home near Gaza's eastern border. Located in a residential neighborhood with no government buildings or obvious targets nearby, it has always felt relatively safe. When I lived there as a child, I learned to stay away from windows, but to keep them open, during bombardments. Three days after the war started, I was on Facebook searching for news and saw something that made me let out a gasp: A spokesman for the Israel Defense Forces had posted a map of our neighborhood with a message telling people to evacuate. When I reached my brother, Hazem, he said they hadn't heard about the evacuation order. But he said they could hear constant explosions and he thought it was very risky to move outside. Home still felt like the safest option. We said goodbye, but for the rest of the day I could not leave my phone. Sick with worry, I scanned Telegram for updates from the ground. My family stayed where they were and each message from them brought fresh relief that they were still alive. <h2>Evacuate the north, but to where? </h2>That Friday morning, Oct. 13, I woke up to a missed call from Yazmina, my friend in Istanbul. Abdullah and I were never the type of people who took our phones with us to bed. That had changed, and for days we'd been reaching for our phones the minute we opened our eyes in the morning. I called Yazmina back. She told me that Israel had announced that 1 million civilians in northern Gaza, including Gaza City, should evacuate within 24 hours. To where, it wasn't clear. Scores of people, including most of Yazmina's family, were already heading south. People were taking refuge in the homes of people they barely knew. I called my parents' home and I asked my dad what he thought. My dad is a great father — more interested in music than politics. Knowing how attached he is to the building he'd lived in for decades, I expected his answer. "I'm not repeating the 1948 mistake," he said, referring to the year Palestinians were removed from our land and Israel declared itself an independent state. "I'm not leaving my house, even if it means I'll be killed." My oldest brother wanted to go. But the three younger brothers preferred to stay put, pointing out that we don't have relatives in the south. We were all also worried about my mother. She is paralyzed and rarely leaves the house, except for the occasional trip to the beach in her wheelchair. I told them I would call every two hours to get them news and to know their plans. Beyond what they could hear and see from their windows, I was my family's link to news and information. I could see on Instagram, for example, that people were already starting to pour out of Gaza City and other parts of the north. I tried not to push them one way or another, since I knew I would be living with a forever guilt if by chance they took my recommendation and were all killed. On one of these calls, they said a friend of Hazam's had offered to host them. So it was agreed: All 35 of them would leave. My niece, Ne'ama, 21, sent me photos of the family packing and her own crying face. They gathered their birth certificates, education certificates, and other documents they'd need to restart their lives if the house was hit. They packed blankets, cooking gas, and cash. They would make two separate trips in my father's two vehicles. <div type="image" title="A woman takes a selfie while holding a baby." height="622" width="828" msid="104737069" hostid="261"></div>Just as my father had said, the scenes of leaving their homes with mattresses tied to the tops of their cars felt like a replay of 1948. "It feels like judgment day," Ne'ama wrote to me. The drive to the south of Gaza usually takes about 15 minutes. Now, two hours. Elsewhere, we heard that taxi drivers were demanding $100 for the journey, up from the usual $10.It was agreed that two of my sisters, Hanadi and Yasmeen, would also flee to the south with their families and in-laws, and take shelter at the same home as my parents and brothers. Yasmeen spent most of the day searching for a car before finally finding some seats with her sister-in-law. Three months ago, Yasmeen lost her only child, Sophia. She had been born prematurely, with underdeveloped lungs and a heart defect, and had been hooked up to an oxygen machine to breathe. She lived for just nine months. On the day of the evacuation, Yasmeen told me she was relieved that Sophia was at peace, that she wasn't sure Sophia would have survived this ordeal. Two of my other sisters, Siham and Taghreed, decided to stay with their children in Gaza City.Siham, who lives near the seaport where naval artillery is often fired, said she's very afraid, but that if she is going to be killed she prefers to be in her own home — not on the floor of a stranger — when it happens. <h2>A place to sleep, water to drink</h2>When they got to the home of Hazem's friend, they were surprised to find more than 100 people taking shelter there already. The rooms were packed, and there were long lines to use the toilet.My sister-in-law had to haggle so that my mother could sleep on a couch rather than on the floor. "It's very humiliating here," Ne'ama told me, crying. "I can't stand seeing my grandmother sleeping on a sofa."They did have water, though, thanks to a well the family used for agriculture. The family had been trading some of that water for bread, which was in short supply, so everyone could eat.<div type="image" title="A selfie shows a large family relaxing near a parked car." height="1200" width="1600" msid="104737070" hostid="261"></div>When my nephew, Hammoud, told me he'd managed to take a cold shower, I asked if there was any shampoo. He laughed, telling me that my years abroad made me forget what it was like to survive in a war zone: "Of course we don't use shampoo! We are very lucky to have water to shower." Even here they didn't feel safe. The south was being hit by airstrikes, which the IDF claims are targeting militants. How could Israel order people to seek refuge in the south and then aim airstrikes at those that obeyed? The next morning, Hanadi said she would return to her house in Gaza City, along with her husband and four children. If all of Gaza was under assault, at least she and the children should be comfortable. <h2>'Despite the current circumstances'</h2>It's so difficult to keep track of everyone. I'm following the news minute by minute, so I know where the explosions are. If a neighborhood where my relatives are gets hit, I start calling them one by one. Sometimes, I dial five numbers before someone picks up. This is what led us to create a single WhatsApp group for our whole family in Gaza. Every morning, or as soon as they have signal, my relatives type in their first initial to confirm they and their families are alive. If we have word from another relative who can't reach us, we share that too. As the day goes on, my relatives send selfies, or try to work out where a strike just happened.I usually turn my WhatsApp notification off — but not now. One recent message was about my oldest sister. No one has heard from her in a week. But her son, Waleed, has been in touch with her neighbor; the neighbor told Waleed that my sister and her other children are still alive, even though many houses on the street have been hit. News from Gaza is getting darker, as people endure not only airstrikes but supplies of food and water are dangerously low. The other day, Yasmeen shared something that had left her shaken. She and her husband had traveled back north to her in-laws' and had been getting water from a 50-liter tank that was kept under the stairs. But two days ago, the tank disappeared. Later that day, when a team selling water passed through the neighborhood, a fight broke out in the street because there wasn't enough for everyone. She said that she never thought she would live to see a day like this.Last week, we lost contact with my parents and brothers for three days. The power banks had been used up and no one was able to charge their phones. I feared the worst. But this was a rare case of a story ending happily in Gaza. <div type="image" title="A man, getting a shave, smiles at the camera." height="673" width="897" msid="104737071" hostid="261"></div>When the electricity briefly came back on, messages poured in to the WhatsApp group. Among the evacuees was a barber, and he had brought his tools with him. Before the Friday prayer, he'd given all the men a fresh shave.My nephew, Hammoud, sent me a series of photos of my male relatives waiting for their turn. Hammoud captioned them: "despite the current circumstances."

'Is everyone alive?' Witnessing the bombardment of Gaza through my family's WhatsApp group

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Hundreds of thousands of people have been migrating to the southernmost region of Gaza. </li><li>One woman whose home was destroyed by Israeli airstrikes said she decided not to move. </li></ul>This is an as-told-to essay based on a conversation with Abeer Barakat, a woman living in the Gaza Strip, who told Insider "I'm not affiliated with any political party." Her home was destroyed by Israeli rocket fire, which Insider verified through photos. She decided to stay while thousands of others went south <a target="_blank" href="https://www.insider.com/woman-describes-fleeing-gaza-israel-palestine-war-hamas-2023-10">for safety.</a>The essay has been edited for length and clarity.You can see a lot in the news, but when you're living that on the ground, it's much more difficult.My house was severely affected by the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/israel-hamas-palestine-gaza-war-airstrikes-raid-siege-attack-bombs-10-2023?inline-endstory-related-recommendations=">airstrikes</a>. At the beginning of this aggression, my whole neighborhood was targeted. I got out with my <a target="_blank" href="https://www.insider.com/children-rights-gaza-palestine-israel-human-rights-united-nations-2023-10">children</a> by a miracle because one of the rockets just hit my daughter's room. They're all teenagers now. They have lived through the 2008, 2012, 2014, 2019, and 2021 aggressions. They know what to expect.We evacuated quickly. We went downstairs and we tried to get out in the street but the bombing was in the street. So we just found shelter in a neighboring house behind ours. We spent the night there. It was really horrific. In the morning, I extracted the few things I could, like spare clothes for my children, and I went to a friend's house.We don't have any running water. The water in the tanks is about to finish completely. It's really nasty, especially when you go to the toilet. For drinking water, thank God we had some bottles stacked. If these bottles are finished then that's it.For food, whatever you had kept in your house, that's what you have. We don't have any shops open around our area. We have to move and find open supermarkets here and there.But even going out in the street is dangerous because you never know when a bomb will target you.For us, though, I think I can say, "Thank God my situation is far better than others."I saw people near the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/netanyahu-deleted-children-of-darkness-post-gaza-hospital-attack-2023-10">hospitals</a> putting blankets on the ground because the hospitals shouldn't be targeted by international law. People were actually taking refuge around the hospital, on the hospital walls, and sitting there waiting for their families. How can someone stay in the street for three or five days? This is inhumane. When I think of them, I wonder "How do they go to the toilet? How do they even sleep?"<h2>'Palestine is a land of three religions'</h2>Israel is targeting all aspects of Gazans' lives, one by one. And let me tell you one thing I have noticed while reading the news and the names of the victims. For the Western media, the victims are only numbers. You see the cumulative number every day, but for us, we read the names of these victims on a daily basis looking for our relatives and our friends. The targets right now are not Hamas leaders or Hamas officials. The targets now are doctors and physicians. We can see this trend from the names of the victims.Zionists are trying to tell the world that they want to <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/israel-wipes-out-hamas-another-group-will-take-its-place-2023-10">destroy Hamas</a>. Let me tell you this as someone who is an insider in the country: Hamas is like a Jell-O. How are they going to destroy it? As long as there is occupation and violence, Hamas, and the idea of Hamas, will continue to exist.They say "I want to destroy Hamas, I want to destroy the facilities of Hamas." Well, in the beginning of this aggression, they targeted ministries, they targeted the communication company — and many parts of Gaza are in total blackout. They have no <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/gaza-israel-airstrikes-trapped-in-a-humanitarian-disaster-2023-10">internet</a>, no telecommunication system. They didn't target the facilities of Hamas. They targeted all of the institutions that provide services to the people.And during previous aggressions, they would warn families before they destroy a building — everybody in the world also said that this is inhumane — but we don't have this privilege now. Whenever you are sleeping in your home, you could have a bomb in your house and then you're gone. They are wiping out families <a target="_blank" href="https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/10/13/when-a-family-dies-under-israels-bombs-part-of-gazas-history-disappears">off the civil registry </a>and not leaving anybody. These people are not affiliated with Hamas.We are living in the biggest <a target="_blank" href="https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2023/07/dismantle-israels-carceral-regime-and-open-air-imprisonment-palestinians-un">open-air prison</a> in the world. What we have here is the occupier pushing us out of our land and calling us terrorists and criminals.It really hurts me a lot to see how Western media portrays us. They don't care about our blood. They don't care about our children. They only care when an Israeli is dead. When they are summarizing this whole issue of the attack of Hamas on the outskirt settlements of Gaza, they don't look at the bigger picture, which is the occupation since 1948. This attack from Hamas is not something that came out of that day. It is something that has been completed over the years. For 75 years, we have been subjected to all kinds of atrocities. It's not just about the attack. It's about the whole thing. It's a response.We are momentarily asking to stop this <a target="_blank" href="https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2023/10/un-expert-warns-new-instance-mass-ethnic-cleansing-palestinians-calls">genocide </a>against us. That's the most important thing. But the demand for all of the Palestinians is to stop the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.ochaopt.org/country/opt">occupation</a>. It's just as simple as that.Palestine is a land of three religions. It's a holy land for the Muslims, the Christians, and the Jews. It's not supposed to be only for Jewish people. It's a place where all religions can live in harmony.<h2>'We're not leaving'</h2>There are over 2 million Palestinians here in the Gaza Strip. They are trying to <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/israel-demand-million-people-leave-northern-gaza-impossible-un-2023-10">push us south</a> to a very confined area.We have heard about this <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/israel-hamas-war-weapons-may-be-used-gaza-ground-operation-2023-10">land invasion</a> from Israel, and this is not the first time it has happened, but we are not prepared. The only shelter we have is our houses. We don't have underground shelters.We are not sleeping much. We are not prepared because we are living day by day.My grandmother is from the generation of <a target="_blank" href="https://ochaopt.org/content/hostilities-gaza-strip-and-israel-flash-update-10">the Nakba</a> and she migrated here in 1948 from Jaffa. My father was one year old when she migrated and she told me about the stories of their migration. She said, "We heard the news coming from villages around about the massacres."They were very scared. She said they didn't leave the city of Jaffa until they heard bombs from the Israeli militias at that time. She said, "We ran for our lives and we thought we were going back once it calmed down." She lost one of her daughters on the road — my great aunt — she had four children at that time. And she said when they were running, people were on trucks. Israeli militants bombed these trucks with mortar bombs on the side of the roads so that people would be scared until they reached Gaza. My grandmother was lucky to already have a home and Gaza.Until the time she died, she always told these stories and cried whenever she told them. One time, I visited Jaffa and went to the exact spot of her house. I found out that it is a restaurant.When I saw these flyers and these warnings about evacuating and going south, I remembered my grandmother's stories and I said, "We are not repeating that mistake again. We're not leaving."

My home was destroyed by an Israeli airstrike. Here is why I decided to stay in Gaza.

After the austere winter, spring ushers in a riot of colours, synonymous with exuberance, effervescence, fun and frolic. And the festival that brings to life all these and more is the festival of colours or <keyword id="6355460" type="PERSON" weightage="80" keywordseo="Holi">Holi</keyword>. Holi is just around the corner and it’s now time to gear up and join your gang in revelry. Let your inner joy spread around. Decorate your home, adorn the outdoors and stock up your fridge with everything that shouts – you are ready for Holi. Here are a few suggestions. 
 
Deck up your lawn, backyard and terrace 
Think Holi and the first thing that comes to one’s mind is gulal-smeared faces and bodies drenched in colours. But with colour powders and liquids all over the place, celebrating Holi indoors could mean a messy house for days. That’s why playing Holi outdoors is always a smart idea. Take all the fragile objects off your terrace, balcony and lawn and deck up those areas with floral rangoli, colourful buntings and festoons. Garlands can be used to decorate the entrances and also the area where you plan to serve food. Place eco-friendly colours in bright containers in every nook and corner – so that no one can stay away from merry-making. 
 
Brighten up the interiors 
Yes, Holi is best celebrated under the open sky. But that shouldn’t stop you from soaking your home in the hues of festivities. Swap those beige cushions with bright pinks and jazzy blues. Let the cream curtains get a breather and colourful ones take charge. Go for colourful wall hangings and garlands to mark the festive spirit. In short, let there be colours all around! 
 
Peppy dance &amp; music 
Holi celebrations are incomplete without shaking a leg to some foot-tapping music. So don’t forget to make your playlist well in advance. Keep your guests’ choice and your preference in mind, but also make sure that you have the most popular Holi numbers. To add some desi tadka, keep a dholak handy and watch your <keyword id="11114" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="40" keywordseo="Holi-party">Holi party</keyword> go crazy. 
 
Lip-smacking snacks &amp; drinks 
What’s Holi without some yummy foodie delights? If you intend to treat your guests with traditional delicacies, you can’t miss the likes of dahi bhalla, kachoris, pakoras, gujiya, mal pua and laddoos. As for drinks, you can’t miss the classic thandai. Soft drinks and fruit juices are also perfect for a Holi party. Serve everything in disposable plates and glasses to avoid the cleaning mess. 
 
Colours &amp; water 
Colours and Holi go hand-in-hand; so get some good quality, eco-friendly and organic colours that don’t harm your skin. If you want to play a mess-free Holi, go for flower petals in varied hues, instead of using real colours. While your guests would love the exotic flower shower, you could save yourself from the colourful chaos caused by the gulal and abeer. Also, keep big buckets of water nearby – so that people can clean up easily before sampling the sumptuous festive food.

Festival
Of Colours: Are You Ready For Holi?

The festival of colours is around the corner and like always, the country is ready to celebrate it in a grand way. It is the time of the year when the youngsters and old, family and friends come together to rub earthly colours on each other. But did you know? This gala festival is celebrated in different styles in diverse parts of India. 
 
Yes, that is true. Each state in the country enjoys the heavenly hues in a different manner. Today, let us have a look at how different parts of India celebrate this fun and colourful festival. 
 
Gujarat 
Hundreds of young boys make a human pyramid and try to reach an earthen matki full of butter hung on a high rope while the girls throw water at them. This is the classic scene that you would encounter anywhere in Gujarat on the day of <keyword id="6355460" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Holi">Holi</keyword>. Known to be the sheer devotees of <keyword id="3198" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Lord-Krishna">Lord Krishna</keyword>, Gujaratis have this special way of celebrating the festival of colours, called <keyword id="2122162" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="80" keywordseo="Dhulendi">Dhulendi</keyword>, which also marks the beginning of a new season. 
 
West Bengal 
Known as 'Dol Jatra' or 'Dol Purnima', the festival begins with men placing the idols of Lords Krishna and Radha in a decorated palanquin and then take it around the streets. Another beautiful ritual during Holi in West Bengal is that the head of the family keeps a fast praying for his family’s well being. After the processions and offering to the idols, the bhog or prashad is distributed amongst family and friends. 
 
Delhi 
Being the capital of India and the cultural hub, Holi is always a grand celebration for people of Delhi. Kids and youngsters form Tolis and move from one street to another, playing Holi with friends and strangers alike. Food and snacks are also a big part of the celebrations here. One can find everything from <keyword id="2122163" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="Gujiya">Gujiya</keyword> (an Indian dessert) to <keyword id="590917" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="Thandai">Thandai</keyword> (an Indian shake) during the day. Dancing to the tunes of Bollywood and some folk songs, the festival is celebrated till Lunch after which people relax and enjoy some family time. 
 
Goa 
The ultimate partying hub of India, Goa also has its own way of celebrating Holi, which is known as Shigmo in Goa. In the traditional Goan style, the people of Goa celebrate Shigmo with fanfare and parades, followed by applying Abeer and Neel on loved ones. Several temples in and around Panaji have special arrangements for the festival. 
 
Barsana 
It is a town in Mathura, where this festival is also known as the Lathmaar Holi and it marks the classic tug of war between men and women. Holi is a week-long celebration here and at first the men from Nandgaon, the village of Lord Krishna try to get atop the temple of Radhaji, which is in Barsana. The women of Barsana try to stop these men from entering and beat them with sticks. Don’t worry, the men are heavily padded and rarely get hurt. Next day, the men of Barsana go to Nandgaon to play Holi with the women there, who again use sticks to save themselves. This mock battle is surely a treat to watch and attracts many tourists, making it a double treat of celebration and worship. 
 The traditions might be different but the festive spirit remains the same, which is reverence to the gods and welcoming the new season. Holi is one of the best and most recognised <keyword id="31692" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="80" keywordseo="festivals-of-India">festivals of India</keyword> and many gather from all around the world to witness the wonderful colours. 
 
Image courtesy: Thinkstock

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