Petals to Gulal : Celebrate with colours this Holi

If Holi prep usually means a last-minute dash to buy packets of gulal, this year you might want to try something different - making your own. Across homes and community spaces, people are experimenting with DIY colours using kitchen staples, flowers and garden produce. The process is simple, tactile, and surprisingly satisfying , and it lets you control exactly what touches your skin. Natural gulal isn’t just about sustainability; it’s also about rediscovering the joy of making something festive with your own hands.

“I began making natural gulal at home simply to protect my children from harsh chemical colours, but it soon became something bigger.The process takes time and care, but it turns Holi into something more meaningful. Even a simple turmeric-and-arrowroot blend is enough for anyone to start.”- Shital Bavishi, eco-entrepreneur

From personal choice to collective shift

For many, the journey begins with concern and curiosity. Model and dancer Sharmistha Biswas recalls how witnessing the making of sustainable gulal changed how she saw Holi celebrations. “Watching the process , colours from vegetables, haldi, and flowers , made me realise how simple conscious choices can be. These colours wash off easily, don’t harm skin, and reduce pollution. If more people shift to them, it could genuinely change how we celebrate the festival.” For entrepreneur Vaishali Sanganeria, founder of Friends The Natural Revolution & Infinite Abundance the motivation was personal long before it became environmental. “I began making gulal at home when my children reacted badly to market colours. Using turmeric, beetroot and flower petals, I made a batch that was vibrant yet gentle. It washed off easily and Holi finally felt joyful again.” Student Bhoomi Gupta represents a younger wave rediscovering the practice. “I tried making gulal last year because I was worried about store colours. I dried rose petals, ground them in a mixer, and mixed turmeric with cornflour so it stayed soft. It felt like a fun experiment, but also reassuring, and I’m planning to do the same again this year.”

Nature’s palette, slow but rewarding

The process may be simple, but it demands patience. Environmentalist Somini Sen Dua believes the secret lies in using what’s locally available and drying it well. “I grow palak in my kitchen garden, so that becomes green. Turmeric gives yellow, and dried rose petals make pink. The key is proper sun-drying and fine grinding so the powder stays soft and skin-friendly.” For Shital Bavishi, Founder of Beejum, what began as a mother’s concern evolved into a wider social mission. “We collect discarded temple flowers, dry and powder them, and blend them with natural bases. It began with protecting children’s skin, but today it’s also about women’s livelihoods, reducing waste, and celebrating responsibly.” Natural gulal takes longer to prepare than opening a packet, but its rewards go beyond colour. It invites a slower, more thoughtful kind of celebration - one rooted in care rather than convenience.

Your natural holi colour guide

• Yellow: Turmeric, marigold petals
• Pink: Rose petals, beetroot powder, light hibiscus blends
• Red: Kumkum, hibiscus petals, red roses
• Green: Spinach (palak), dried neem leaves
• Orange: Palash/Tesu flowers, saffron water tint
• Blue: Aparajita (butterfly pea) flowers, jacaranda petals (dried), indigo plant powder (natural, cosmetic grade)

The fine print of homemade gulal

• Dry all ingredients completely before grinding
• Use arrowroot or cornflour for a soft base
• Grind finely and sieve twice for smoothness
• Avoid synthetic dyes or cheap colour powders
• Store in airtight containers away from moisture
• Start with small batches to test colour strengthBy Vaishali Sanganeria, founder of Friends The Natural Revolution & Infinite Abundance

“Homemade gulal may not be the fastest route to Holi-ready colours, but it might be the most meaningful. Because sometimes, the real celebration isn’t just in the colours we throw - it’s in the choices we make before we throw them.”- Somini Sen Dua, environmentalist






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