Holi Ke Rang Rasoi Ke Sang

SAFE SHADES

 

So far I have written about the special recipes for the festival of colours. I have always wanted to play the festival but due to a very sensitive skin I could not  play it with abandon. I have now discovered some special colors which I can make out of simple things straight from my kitchen drawers and refrigerator and enjoy holi without damaging my skin. I am sharing them with you today.

 

Green: Use henna powder in dry form as a green gulal. Soak henna powder in water overnight and strain to get a orange colored water to play wet holi. Adjust the colour intensity by increasing or decreasing the amount of henna powder.

 

 

 

Red: Dry hibiscus petals can be powdered to make red gulal. For red coloured water, grate beetroot and squeeze out the juice and dilute with water. The residue can be dried in hot sun and powdered to make red gulal. Alternatively extract juice from beetroot in a juicer and dilute the juice with water to get red water and dry the extract to make gulal. Red Sandalwood powder and dry Palash petals (Flame of the forest/ Keshu) have been used in my family for ages.

 

 

 

 

Yellow: Turmeric is a natural yellow pigment and has antiseptic properties as well. It can be used as it is as yellow gulal.  It can also be mixed with sandalwood powder to decrease the colour intensity . In earlier days saffron was used but now its price is prohibitive. Even today  we use it as a tilak in the morning on day of holi. Marigold and calendula petal can be crushed to give a yellow paste which has soothing properties.

 

 

 

 

Blue/ purple: Blue color can be made by soaking Jamuns overnight in water and straining the extract the next morning. Another easily available blue colour is from our laundry......... the humble Neel/ Indigo. Use it as dry blue gulal or deep blue water by dissolving in water.

 





                                                                                                                                                             

Food colouring diluted with water is another safe alternative for holi colours. They come in a large number of shades and can be mixed to get unique colours to play the colourful festival.  

         

 

Secret Tip: Add a few drops of sandalwood oil or any aromatic essential oil to the coloured water for a fragrant holi.