The festival of colours is here! Even though the pandemic has put a damper on Holi celebrations, one can still make the most of it by celebrating the festival with loved ones (by following all the necessary precautions, obviously)! The first thing on the list is Holi colours. While there are many shops providing the same, you can also make organic colours at home by following these very simple steps. Artificial colours contain chemicals and other agents that can cause irritation, allergies and dry skin. So why not go the natural way this Holi and make colours at home with easily available kitchen ingredients.
Red
Spread out the turmeric powder and squeeze lime juice on it. The acidic lemon will react with turmeric and turn it red in colour. Spread it out to dry in a well-ventilated room but away from the sun, which can bleach it. Once it is dry, rub it again between the palms of your hands and sieve it a few times. Red colour can also be prepared using dried red hibiscus flowers. Take properly dried hibiscus or China rose flowers and then grate them into a fine powder.
Pink
Follow the same process as in the case of making red, with only lesser quantity of lemon.
Beetroot is also a good source of red/pink pigment. You can soak sliced beetroots in water, boil the mixture and leave it overnight. If you wish to have a darker shade of pink, just dilute the mixture a little more.
Yellow
Add turmeric powder to besan, and mix it nicely, rubbing it between both palms, till they are mixed together well. The ratio of turmeric powder to besan is 20:80. After this, sieve it (using a very fine strainer) at least two to three times.
Green
Add mehendi to maida (equal ratio), mix and sieve a few times to get green colour. For wet colour, you can use any green leafy vegetables, such as spinach or Neem. The leaves when dipped in water will give it a green colour.
Blue
Powdered blue hibiscus flower petals and rice flour can be used to obtain blue-coloured gulal. For wet colours, you can use crushed and dried jacaranda flowers mixed with water.
Precautions to take for a safe Holi in Covid times:
1. Make sure no one with signs of cold or fever is involved in the celebration.
2. Avoid large gatherings and play with a small group of people.
3. In case of mild cold or cough, avoid the Holi celebrations completely.
4. Don`t take your mask off.
5. Maintain social distancing, do not let people smear colour on your face.
6. Don`t eat anything until you take a shower.
7. It`s highly recommended to celebrate the festival indoor.
8. Avoid handshakes and hugging.
