Herbal hues herald wholesome Holi

BHUBANESWAR: With health-consciousness at an all-time high in the city, people are opting for herbal and organic colours this Holi. Until even last year, people were unmindful of the fact that the colours they smear on their near and dear ones contain harmful chemicals. Thanks to increased awareness, however, herbal and organic colours are selling like hot cakes ahead of the Holi celebration, going by sales figures in major markets of the city.
Though these natural and non-toxic colours are relatively costlier than usual colours, people don't mind spending an extra buck to ensure the Holi celebration does not turn into a health hazard. Saroj Sahu, a shopkeeper in Unit-II market, said, "Most customers are asking for organic and herbal colours and only a handful have bought normal colours so far. These natural gulals are non-staining and are safe alternatives to synthetic dyes that can irritate the skin and eyes.
The herbal colours available in the market are made from natural raw materials such as herbs, flowers, leaves and spices. Difficult to source in previous years, these fragrant colours in bright hues are now available off the shelves in all popular markets.
"Holi is a festival of joy and colours. But one needs to be careful in order to prevent accidents that may ruin the fun. The element of fun should be kept under limits and natural colours are the best way to ensure safety," Sushil Kumar Jena, a bank manager in the city.
The streets of the city are also drenched in colour with roadside stalls selling multi-coloured pichkaris', gulal and other Holi accessories. Scores of stalls selling colours and other accessories have sprung up on roadsides and major squares of the city including Master Canteen, Ashok Nagar, Vani Vihar, Bapuji Nagar, Jaydev Vihar, Acharya Vihar and so on. Holi will be celebrated on Sunday in the city.
This year, many products like caps and masks to protect one's face and hair from colours have been specially rolled out for the occasion. While normal colours are priced at Rs 20 for a 100 gram packet, organic hues cost double at Rs 40 for the same-size packet, market sources said.
"Most youngsters are preferring organic colours this year. Many apartment complexes and colonies have placed orders in bulk for natural hues as well. We have herbal products from branded companies as well as locally-made products," said Niranjan Bisoi, a wholesale shopkeeper in Unit-I market.
"Fortunately, awareness about toxic colours has increased. One should keep in mind that only food colours, eco-friendly powders and pastes, that are made from natural extracts of flowers, vegetables and minerals, should be used as they are harmless," said Nandini Das, a school teacher.
A dermatologist in SUM Hospital here, Bikas Kar, cautioned skin allergies are very common during Holi and if proper precautions are not taken, they can take on the fatal form of cancer. "Most Holi colours available in the market contain oxidized metals or industrial dyes mixed with engine oil, which are dangerous for the skin. Black colour is made from lead oxide, green from copper sulphate, silver from aluminium bromide and red from mercury sulphite. These chemicals can cause allergies, temporary blindness, renal failure, skin cancer and even paralysis. Sometimes, they can even prove fatal."