How to ensure that you have a Safe and Eco-friendly Holi this year

Holi is a wonderful time of the year. It is full of fun, music, colors and people truly enjoying themselves. Everywhere you turn, there is a splash of color to be seen. However, it is no secret that as fun as Holi always is, you tend to feel its effects for a few days after. That is because you don’t really prepare for Holi, it just happens to you. But if you did prepare a little for Holi and paid attention to a couple of things, then you might fare a little better after this Festival of Colors. Here’s to a Safe and Eco-Friendly Holi!

We know everyone is busy and they don’t really have the time or the energy to spend on preparing for Holi, but bear with us. We will try to make this list simple and maybe a little fun too, so that if you do follow our suggestions then you just might have a fun and safe holi for both you and the environment.

Here are some things that you can do to ensure that you have a Safe and Eco-friendly Holi:

1. Buy Natural and Organic Colors

As kids we were used to playing with any and all colors that were available to us. However, that wasn’t always the best strategy. Not all colors are good for you. Some can irritate your skin or your eyes. Others can even give a skin allergy, or at the least leave your skin feeling dry and irritated. Not to mention that these inorganic colors are really not good for the environment and for the animals. It taints the drinking water of the strays and even the fish, which we end up eating again. So, it is better for all to buy natural and organic colors. They are good for you and the environment. In fact, you can even make colors at home from things just lying around the house, for example turmeric and gram flour for yellow, or mehendi with talcum powder for green. Look for more recipes here, or search online.

2. Moisturize your Skin

Even using organic colors can dry out your skin. And there is no guarantee that everyone else is using organic colors as well. So, it is best to be prepared in advance, rather than to deal with the consequences later on. Always put lotion or oil (coconut oil works great) on your skin before stepping out to play holi. This will end up protecting your skin to ensure that the colors don’t penetrate your skin, thus no concerns of irritation or rashes. Another benefit of that is that the color will come off soon, so that you don’t have to walk around as a rainbow for a few days.

3. Use SPF

Just like using only lotion is not enough in everyday life, it is not enough for Holi either. In addition to just moisturizer, you should also look into using SPF, i.e. sunscreen to give your skin the ideal all-round protection. Just because you are busy playing holi, doesn’t mean that the Sun is going to hide and wait for you to finish. In fact, it will be working the hardest, and you are going to end up out under the Sun for hours. All the while, your skin will be absorbing all those harmful UV rays without your attention. UV rays are the leading cause for skin cancer, and honestly you don’t want that. So the best way to protect yourself would be to use Sunscreen, you can even use lotion that has SPF in it. If you are planning on playing a wet holi, then remember to use waterproof sunscreen. Also, keep in mind that you should put sunscreen at least 30 to 45 mins before sun exposure.

4. Oil your Hair

Similarly, your hair also needs protection. Some would argue, that it needs it more. The colors not only pigment your hair, but it is bound to leave it dry, frizzled, and limp. The best way to avoid that is to oil your hair beforehand. The ideal would be to just oil the hair, and not the scalp, though if you are doing it the same day you can oil scalp as well, in order to ensure that the colors don’t pigment your scalp or dry it out. The oil will generally protect your hair from the colors as well as hydrate and moisturize it, so that they don’t look so dry and frizzled the next day. Oiling would take only a few mins, but repairing the damage to your hair can take ages. Remember, prevention is better than cure.

5. Play a Dry Holi

One of the best ways to ensure a eco-friendly holi is to SAVE WATER. So, play a dry holi if you can. It has all the colors and all the fun of holi, without the guilt of wasting water. If you really want to use water, use it in in limited quantities, and ensure that not a lot of it is going to waste. Most people don’t realize that we as a planet are facing a shortage of fresh water thanks to global warming and human practices. Not to mention that the water we do use in Holi runs off to join other water sources, sources that we or other animals drink from. This ends up contaminating any and all nearby water sources, which is not good for the environment or for us.

6. Avoid using Water Balloons or Bags

Even if you do end up playing a wet holi, you can try to avoid using water balloons. Even worse than water balloons are those plastic bags that some people use. These balloons and bags are not recyclable, and even if they were, no one is going to pick up those small and wet pieces left over after bursting the balloons. These remnants of the balloons and bags then end up in the landfill a few days after the holi water dries up, or it ends up washing away with the water and clogging the water sources where animals drink from. These animals and the fish in the water can then choke on these small rubber and plastic bits.

7. Don’t throw water, colors, or balloons at passersby

Another way to ensure that holi is safe for everyone is not to play holi with someone who is not playing holi. This includes passerbys, travellers, or just people standing under your building. One it is a safety issue, because suddenly throwing water, colors, or balloons at drivers or passerbys can cause an accident. Second, they could be travelling to work and somewhere important and they may not want color on them. Third, it just leads to wastage of both color and water, which as previously mentioned can be hazardous to the environment and animals. Fourthly, if they don’t want to play holi then they shouldn’t be forced to play holi. After all they should have a choice and be able to give consent.

8. Don’t put colors on pets or strays

People love pets, so it is no surprise that they want them to be included in all of the Holi fun. However, it is hard to forget sometimes that our pet babies are not the same as us. While the colors from the holi may or may not irritate us, they are bound to irritate the pets, because the fine powder tend to get trapped in their fur coats. Another hazard is that they may ingest the colors, by either inhaling them, which can choke them, or by licking their hands or fur coats, or by drinking the holi colored water. This also applies to all strays as well. They often end up covered in color or end up drinking the holi water as that is all that is available to them. Another concern is that they don’t really know what holi is or why somebody (loved one or stranger) is now suddenly attacking them with color. This can induce anxiety as well.

9. Play with people you know

Every once in a while, you’ll always hear stories of people, especially women and young girls, being harassed or molested on Holi. While everyone has the right to feel safe, it is known to happen. People tend to get carried away with all the fun and energy around them, and some people tend to take advantage of that to hide their ill intentions. All the bhang being consumed doesn’t help either. It is essential that people feel safe when they play Holi. You don’t want your good memories to be marred with negative interactions. So, ensure that you know who you are playing Holi with. Play with friends, or trusted friends of friends. Or if you are in a bash, ensure that you are in secure areas surrounded by friends, stay in groups, and know where the emergency services are located, just in case.

Holi is a wonderful time that ends up creating a lot of memories for everyone. Nearly all of us have fond memories of playing Holi, but that does not mean that someone else or the environment should suffer for us and our memories. Also, it should be a safe Holi for everyone, so that everyone enjoys it. Hopefully, these tips can help you and everyone around you have a Safe, Fun, and Eco-Friendly Holi. Happy Holi!