Residents opt for conscious Holi to balances festivities with civic realities

Pune: Markets across the city witnessed heavy crowds as residents prepared for Holi, blending tradition with evolving celebration styles.Busy stretches such as Laxmi Road and Mahatma Phule Mandai saw steady footfall over the weekend, with shoppers picking up colours, sweets, puja essentials, decorative items, balloons and water guns ahead of the festivities.
Holi is being observed on March 2, followed by Dhulivandan on March 3. Some regions in the country, however, will observe Holi on March 3. Preparations for the ceremonial bonfire have already begun in several neighbourhoods, with residents gathering wood, dried leaves and traditional offerings for the ritual symbolising the victory of good over evil.Celebrations, however, are also reflecting growing environmental awareness. Several housing societies across the city stated they would either scale down bonfires or avoid lighting them entirely this year to reduce air pollution. Instead, residents plan to conduct symbolic rituals using lamps, collective prayers or smaller, controlled fires.Swati K, a resident of a housing society in Kothrud, said, "Our society members have decided not to light the Holika Dahan this year because of rising pollution levels in the city. Many people are already dealing with asthma and bronchitis, and the smoke causes further trouble. We want to be mindful of everyone's health and celebrate the festival in a fun, eco-friendly and pollution-free way."Shopkeepers noted that while organic and skin-friendly colours remain popular, they are no longer viewed as a novelty ."Earlier, people specifically asked for herbal gulal. Now it is simply the standard expectation," said Shivraj Gaikwad, a shopkeeper on Laxmi Road.He added that customers are increasingly buying flower petals, reusable water guns and smaller packets of colour as families opt for shorter, more mindful celebrations.Residents said the social attitude around playing with colours is also shifting."Our society will organise a breakfast gathering with music and play with dry colours. Water scarcity has increased over the last few years, and we refrain from wasting water. We have put out messages on the society WhatsApp group to be mindful of water usage during the festival," said Sneha Kulkarni, a resident of Aundh.Aditya Joshi from Kothrud said discussions around consent have become more common. "People now ask before applying colour. That was rare earlier," he said.Alongside neighbourhood celebrations, Holi parties are expected to draw crowds to adventure parks, resorts and water parks in and around the city. Rain dance setups, DJs and curated day-long events have become a preferred option for younger revellers and families seeking organised celebrations.Alongside neighbourhood celebrations, Holi parties are expected to draw crowds to adventure parks, resorts, and water parks in and around the city, where rain dance setups, DJs, and curated daylong events have become a preferred option for younger revellers and families seeking organised celebrations. Flower vendors are also anticipating brisk sales, with marigold and rose petals increasingly being used for eco-conscious celebrations.