Make this Holi safe and eco-friendly

Sandip.Bal@timesgroup.comPhoto: Subranshu Mohapatra; Location: HHI, BhubaneswarHoli is a festival that has held its own despite the changing times. But yes, a silent paradigm shift is happening in the way people, especially those in urban areas, celebrate the festival. Many now desist from playing the traditional ‘wet’ Holi and are shifting to dry and safe herbal colours. One of the most prominent reasons behind this shift is the growing awareness about ecological and water conservation. The other shift — to herbal colours — can be attributed to increased awareness about personal wellness. Save waterAt a time when drinking water crisis is a harsh reality in many areas, especially populated urban centres, an increasing number of people find the practice of wasting water in the name of celebration unacceptable. Moreover, summer is approaching, which means higher use of water for drinking and bathing and drier water bodies. In some parts of Bhubaneswar too, residents have a hard time getting clean drinking water. Actress Archita Sahu said people should play with colours as it’s our tradition. “But mixing colours in water leads to a huge wastage of this valuable resource and using chemical colours adds to that loss. It takes a lot of water to wash off these colours and the more water we waste, the less someone else gets. So, I’d like to ask people to use herbal colours this Holi. They are not only safe, but can also be washed off easily,” the actress said.Personal & environmental hazardsNot only is the practice of using chemical colours a health hazard, but can also prove disastrous for the environment. And here too, water is a key factor. To avoid using too much water at home, many visit nearby water bodies to clean up. This act is a double-edged sword. One, they are polluting the water with chemicals and two, as most revellers tend to be in an inebriated state during the festivities, they run the risk of drowning. In fact, every year during Holi, several such deaths are reported in and around the city. “These accidents can be avoided if revellers don’t use chemical colours and then venture into deep water to wash them off,” said Sabyasachi Mishra, who plays Holi with herbal colours. “I prefer that because chemical colours don’t wash off easily. In the process, we waste a lot of water trying to clean up. Moreover, herbal colours don’t have harmful chemicals in them,” the actor added.How to make Holi safe and happySafety Advice and Measures