How to make organic holi colours at home?

Don't we love smearing colours on the faces of our loved ones, as we all adore to be drowned in this festival of colours? Of course! Holi colours are unquestionably at the top of the list of essentials. While artificial colours are available in a variety of stores and shops in your area, they are harmful to your skin and health.

These synthetic colours contain harsh chemicals that can irritate the skin, trigger allergies, and cause dryness. However, because they are readily available, we end up purchasing them. If you're wondering about alternate options, you are at the right place. Make natural colours with things that are readily available in your kitchen to take the road less travelled.

Did you think mixing colours at home was a difficult task? You won't have to worry about how to make Holi colours at home any longer. Here are several quick fixes to prepare Holi colours so that you don't have to miss out on the real Holi-fun.

DIY tips for organic holi colors -

1. THE ROSY RED COLOUR - 

The red colour is the most important shade of Holi, and it is utilized as an offering to the Gods as well. The vibrant colour represents vitality, excitement, ambition, and, most importantly, good fortune.

Here's how to make gulaal using natural ingredients:

• Red Sandalwood powder has a lovely red tint and is good for your skin. Bring five litres of water to a boil with this powder. Pomegranate peels can be added to this for a deeper red colour. This is all you need to make red gulal. Do try it out. 

• To achieve a wonderful crimson colour, dry red hibiscus flowers in the shade and then powder them. To calibrate the vibrancy of the colour, add some freshly ground wheat flour to the powder.

2. THE MAGICAL MAGENTA COLOUR -

The colour magenta is associated with universal love, compassion, and generosity.

• Slice or grate one beetroot for a beautiful magenta colour. For a deep shade, soak in 1 litre of water overnight. In the morning, dilute with extra water as needed.

3. THE BRIGHT YELLOW COLOUR -

On Holi, the bright yellow colour is everyone's favourite since it symbolizes prosperity, brilliance, energy, and harmony. With natural substances, create your own spectacular and bright yellow colour for Holi:

• To two litres of water, add one teaspoon of turmeric, or haldi, and stir well. This can be heated to boost the colour concentration before being diluted.

• Another method - Under the shade, dry the fresh petals of marigold and yellow chrysanthemum flowers, then crush them to make a fine powder. Combine an adequate amount of flower powder with gram flour or lentil powder in a mixing bowl. 

4. THE “GO GREEN” COLOUR -

The colour green represents life and nature. It also symbolises pride, optimism, newness, and coolness.

To make a green powder for Holi, follow these simple steps:

• Dry Mehendi powder is readily available and may be swept off without leaving a stain on your face.

• You can also dry and finely powder the leaves of the gulmohar tree for a lush green colour.

• Make a fine paste with water and the leaves of spinach, coriander, and mint.

5. THE BOLD BLUE COLOUR -

The blue hue represents the water element and symbolises affection, faith, and spiritual growth.

For a vibrant blue, use:

• In the Indian summer, the jacaranda blossoms (Blue Gulmohar) bloom. To make a gorgeous blue powder for Holi, dry these in the shade then hand-grind them.

• Alternatively, you can smash the Indigo tree berries and put them in water, then boil to get the required colour strength. When the leaves of some Indigo species are boiled in water, they turn a deep blue colour.

6. THE PRETTY PINK COLOUR -

Pink signifies - love and kindness. To make your pink colour organically, follow these simple hacks -

Beetroot, along with pink hibiscus blossoms, is a great way to generate organic pink or magenta colours. Make a paste out of beetroot for a dry variant. Allow it to dry in the sun. To boost the volume, add besan (gram flour) or wheat flour once it has completely dried.

7. THE SOULFUL SAFFRON COLOUR -

This magnificent hue, which is the colour of the Sun, symbolises a new day, new beginnings, growth, spiritual road, and the accomplishment of wisdom.

This Holi, here's how to make saffron using natural flowers:

• The Flame of the Forest, also known as Tesu or Palash in the local community, is one of the most well-known sources of the traditional Holi colour. The blooms can be steeped in water overnight or cooked to make fragrant saffron-coloured water.

• Alternatively, soak 2 tablespoons of water with a few threads of kesar. Allow for a few hours before grinding to a fine paste. This paste can then be coloured by diluting it with more water.

CELEBRATING HOLI, ORGANICALLY!

So, isn't it simple and easy to create eco-friendly Holi Colours at home? Holi is a festival that depicts new beginnings, hope, and unity. This year, let us celebrate Spring and all of its wonderful colours by playing Holi with natural colours! Choose organic colours this Holi to keep yourself and your loved ones safe from hazardous and synthetic Holi colours. Let us all do our part to help the earth and bring back the genuine meaning of Holi.

HAPPY HOLI.

Photo by Kyaw Tun on Unsplash

Author - prarthana is a postgrad physics student, a fervent physicist who loves to revitalize and tweak articles on sustainability and technology. she can be found at instagram and linkedIn