GO ORGANIC: Did you know synthetic colours used in Holi sometimes cause allergies and can even trigger respiratory problems in people? You can avoid that by using organic or natural colours and also home-made colours. According to Himanshu Verma who runs Red Earth, a Delhi based independent private arts organisation, you can easily make batches of colours using safe powdered ingredients such as simple turmeric , sandalwood, henna and multani mitti (Fuller’s Earth) to make various colours. Add finely crushed dried flowers if available – marigold and rose work well and the mitti adds texture. Mix, match and use your imagination to make the most unique colours. WATER-FREE PLAY: Colours mixed in gallons of water for spraying makes Holi a hugely water-intensive festival. Of course, when the location is built around a waterpark, you can have a guilt-free Holi. But if you have a choice, why not try playing a powder-based Holi? In some places, revellers play ‘Tilak Holi’- put a simple tilak on your loved ones. You still have plenty of chasing and laughter and colouring. After all, the tilak can be placed in many colours and many times, all over the face. You can also use the traditional picchkari which you can buy in the Manama Temple lane for spraying water – that limits water use. Imagine how much effort and water it will save once you are done playing with colours. If you still must use water, then make sure you plan your celebrations and decide beforehand the amount of water you will use.
CONTACT-SPORT: Using water balloons not only creates unnecessary garbage and wastes plenty of water, but can also cause injuries. And it does not even give the satisfaction of colouring someone with your own hands. So dip your palms in powder and hug or wipe it on friends’ clothes. Remember – protect your eyes and avoid putting powder in other people’s eyes because even organic and natural colours can harm the eyes.
Do me a favour…
Every year, the arrival of Spring is marked by an extravagant sharing of colours between family, friends and even strangers - the Indian festival of Holi is so popular that other communities too join in the fun, especially in the spacious courtyard of the Manama Shri Krishna Temple. There are also Holi parties at funky settings such as the Lost Paradise of
ANIMAL ALERT: The famous Elephant Festival in Jaipur has been cancelled after Animal Welfare Board, animal welfare activists, and People for Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) raised objections to it. The festival featured decorated elephants with colours and heavy jewellery. PETA has also appealed to not throw colours on pets and animals this Holi. No matter how amusing it might look to you, colouring innocent animals is never a good idea, especially with those chemical mixed colours which cause immense harm to their bodies. Be more considerate this year and celebrate an animal-friendly holi. 58 SALAAM BAHRAIN
MARCH
2018