How to make simple natural organic Holi colours at home

Did you know the dangers of playing with Holi colours? The Holi colours which you buy from the market contain dangerous stuff. These colours incorporate oxidized metals, industrial dyes, engine oil, and goodness knows what else! None of these are safe to use, as they are all of the toxic kind. Hence these colours are not only unsafe for your skin – they could cause skin allergies – but also dangerous for your eyes. 

If the colours enter your eyes, you will feel continuous irritation. You could even go blind over a period of time if excessive colours have entered your eyes.

Packaged colours labelled non-toxic and safe - are they really that safe?

It is therefore far safer to use organic Holi colours. In fact, it is even better to use dry organic colours rather than wet ones. A dry colour can easily be mixed with flour or talcum powder (both should be of equal quantity). Of course, do make sure the flour is fully clean. Such colours can be used up to 7 days, after which they will spoil.

Here’s how to make Holi colours from home ingredients and vegetables

1. Orange colour: Grate one large carrot (you can slice it too if you wish instead of grating), soak in 2 litres boling water and leave overnight.

2. Red colour: Grate or slice one large beetroot, soak in 2 litres boiling water.

3. Purple colour: Finely cut a dozen black grapes and an equal number of gooseberries. Soak them in a bowl of boiling water for half a day.

4. Green colour: Take a small bunch of spinach leaves (palak) and soak in hot water. A bunch of coriander leaves or mint leaves too can give you a nice green colour. If you don’t want wet green colour, dry grind the leaves to a very fine powder.

5. Light Yellow colour: Buy some marigold flowers (the ones you put in a toran or garland). Remove the individual petals and keep them on a newspaper to dry in the shade for half a day. Crush them finely with a pestle till they are reduced to a powder. Even plain turmeric powder is good for a lovely yellow – simply add a tsp. of it to 2 litres of boiled water.

Marigold flowers can be crushed and used as yellow colour

6. Dark Yellow colour: 4 tsps. besan (gram flour) + 2 tsps. Haldi (turmeric powder).

Know more about the festival: Holi Festival traditions and rituals   
Holi SMS greetings in English
Holi SMS greetings in Hindi
Holi pichkaris