The Chemical composition of a few Holi colours and their Health Impacts | ||
Colour | Composition | Health Effects |
Black | Lead oxide | Renal Failure, Learning disability |
Green | Copper Sulphate | Eye allergy, Temporary blindness |
Purple | Chromium iodide | Bronchial asthma, Allergies |
Silver | Aluminium Bromide | Carcinogenic |
Red | Mercury Sulphite | Skin cancer, Minamata disease (mental retardation, paralysis, impared vision...) |
Source : Vatavaran |
![Holi ke Rang, Phoolon ke Sangh! (1) Holi ke Rang, Phoolon ke Sangh! (1)](https://i0.wp.com/www.devalt.org/../images/june01holi.jpg)
Ever GreensDry 2. Dry and finely powder the leaves of Gulmohur (Delonixregia) tree for a green. 3. Crush the tender leaves of the Wheat plant to obtain a natural safe greenHoli colour. Wet1. Mix two teaspoons of mehendi in one litre of water andstir it well to get a green colour. 2. Green colour can also be obtained by mixing a fine pasteof leaves like spinach / palak, coriander / dhaniya, mint / pudina, etc. inwater. Dry 2. Flowers like Amaltas (Cassia fistula), Marigold /Gainda (Tagetus erecta), Yellow Chrysanthemums, Black Babul (Acaciaarabica) yield different shades of yellow. Dry the petals of these flowers inshade and crush them to obtain a fine powder. Mix appropriate quantity of thepowder with besan, etc. or use separately. 3. Dry the rind of the Bael fruit (Aegle marmelos) andgrind to obtain a yellow coloured powder. 2. Soak Amaltas (Cassia fistula) or Marigold / Gainda(Tagetus erecta) flowers in water. Boil and leave overnight. Dry 2. Dry red hibiscus flowers in shade and grind it to make alovely red colour. To increase the bulk add any flour to it. 3. Sinduria, called Annato in English has a water chestnutshaped fruit which contains lovely brick red coloured seeds. These yield bothdry and wet colours. 2. Peels of Red Pomegranate boiled in water give red. 4. Buras (Rhododendron arboreum) known as Burans inthe Garhwal hills and Brans in the Kumaon hills gives a lovely red colour whensoaked in water overnight. 5. Red hibiscus flowers soaked in water overnight give a redwhich also has medicinal value. 6. The Palita Madar / Pangri / Indian Coral tree/ (Erythrina indica),found commonly in coastal regions, has large red flowers. Soak the flowers inwater overnight. 7. Boil wood of Madder Tree in water for a deep red. 8. Red colour can also be obtained from juice of tomatoes andcarrots. This can be diluted with sufficient quantity of water to remove thestickiness. Dry 2. The blue Hibiscus which is found in Kerala can be driedand powdered just like the red hibiscus Wet 2. Boil the peels of 10 - 15 pink Onions in half litre ofwater for an orangish-pink colour. Remove the peels before using to remove thesmell. 3. Soak Kachnar (Bauhinia variegata) flowers (pinkvariety) in water overnight, or boil for a pinkish colour. Wet 2. Boil flower petals of red variety of Semul / Silk Cotton (Bombaxceiba ) in water. 3. Collect and dry the stalks of Harashringar / Parijatak (Nyctanthesarbor-tristis) flowers during the early winter season. Soak them in water toget a pleasant orange colour. 4. Mix a pinch of Sandalwood powder from Ujjain (also used inour temples) in 1 litre of water for an instant, beautiful and fragrant saffroncolour. 5. Soak a few stalks of Saffron / Kesar in 2 table spoons ofwater. Leave for few hours and grind to make a fine paste. Dilute with water fordesired colour strength. Though expensive, it is excellent for our skin. Wet 2. Boil Tea or Coffee leaves in water. Cool and use.
1. Use mehendi / henna powder, separately or mix with equal quantity ofany suitable flour to attain a lovely green shade. Use onlypure mehendi and not the one mixed with amla (meant to be applied to our hair)as this would be brown in colour. Dry mehendi will not leave colour on your faceas it can be easily brushed off. Only when it is a paste (i.e. it is mixed inwater) it will leave a slight colour on your face. Thus, it can be used as apucca / fast colour. Many people like smearing other persons hair withcolours. How about doing it with mehendi powder and saving a trip to the parlour?
3. For a bright orangish-red, mix thoroughly a pinch of chuna/ lime powder (the one that we eat with our paan / betel leaves) with 2 spoonsof haldi powder and a few drops of water. Use only after diluting with 10 litresof water.
Wet1. Boil dried fruits of Amla / Indian Gooseberry in an ironvessel and leave overnight. Dilute with water and use. 2. Extract juice of black grapes and dilute with sufficientquantity of water to remove stickiness. | ENVIRONMENTI Love the flowers |