Opt for an eco-friendly Holi: Make organic colours at home

Holi, a festival full of colours, joy and delicious food, is one of the most eagerly awaited celebrations across India. But the vibrant hues can be harmful, as gulaal often contains chemicals that may damage the skin as well as the environment. Making organic colours at home is a more sustainable alternative that you can try this festive season.

Pink from beetrootThe natural hue of beetroot is a perfect, safe alternative to chemical-laden pink Holi colours.
- Take 3-4 medium sized beetroots and blend them into a fine paste
- Strain the paste to extract the juice
- Dry it out on a clean cloth or paper to form a powder
- Once it is dried, your pink colour is ready to store and use

Yellow from turmericTurmeric is not only good for medicinal purposes but also makes a great yellow shade for Holi.
- Take 2-3 tablespoons of organic turmeric powder, cornstarch (for texture) and some water and mix it all together
- Add a few more drops of water to thicken the consistency, if necessary
- Leave the paste to dry in the sun and your colour is ready!

Green from spinachGreen leafy vegetables like spinach come in handy when it comes to making organic green colour for Holi.
- You will need a handful of spinach
- Wash the spinach leaves thoroughly before blending it into a fine paste with some water
- Extract the green juice and spread it out on a cloth to dry in the sun. Once dried, it’s ready to use as gulaal.