6 ways to celebrate eco-friendly holi

Like every festival in India, Holi, the festival of colors, is unique. People enjoy this festival by applying colors and gulaal on each other and preparing unique sweets and food for the day. The real essence of this festival lies in sharing love, joy, and enthusiasm. 

However, a lot has changed about this festival with changing times too. People have started using chemical-based colors, water balloons, and plastics in abundance, which is harmful to us and the environment. 

How about celebrating Holi differently this year? Let’s have an eco-friendly Holi this year to add more colors of joy and safety to your celebration. Celebrating an eco-friendly Holi gives you the freedom to have fun and the pleasure of protecting the environment.      

By making your Holi celebrations eco-friendly, you save money, which could have been spent on harmful colors and other irrelevant products. I encourage you to continue discovering how to celebrate an eco-friendly Holi. 

1. Use Natural Colours over chemical-based colors:

During Holi, choose homemade and natural colors over chemical ones.

The chemical colors typically used during Holi are chemical-based and highly harmful to your skin, eyes, and hair. They can also permanently disrupt your vital organs. Additionally, it is exceedingly challenging to remove these artificial colors while bathing. Using natural hues protects your skin, hair, and eyes from damage. Here are some do-it-yourself suggestions for creating eco-friendly Holi colors at home.

• Boil water and add Beetroot chunks to it. Keep it overnight. You'll be prepared with colored water in the morning. You can use this for a green Holi party.
• Add some finely chopped black grapes and amla to boiling water to make some black color for Holi. Then let it cool down. It's time for your black color.
• Turmeric powder can be used to get a yellow color. Alternatively, you might use the petals from marigold flowers.
• Want some green color? It's simple. Boiling water should then be added to spinach, mint, and neem leaves. You'll have a green color for yourself in the morning.

2. Say no to balloons and plastic bags 

Several children, and even some adults, like hurling water-filled bags and miniature plastic balloons at one another. Although it sounds enjoyable, it is incredibly harmful to the environment. The remains of these balloons contribute to environmental damage. Saying NO to balloons and plastic bags this Holi will inspire others to do the same.

3. Share your natural colors with others

Sharing is caring. Share your eco-friendly natural colors with your relatives and friends. This will encourage them to celebrate an eco-friendly Holi. Make it more fun by inviting your friends and relatives to prepare these natural colors one day before Holi.

Join the household while preparing the sweatmeats and other savories. Some exclusive delicacies during this festival are gujiya, malpuas, mathri, puran poli, dahi badas, and glasses downed with thandai.

4. Avoid using harmful products

Holi is a festival of fun. Please don’t ruin it using harmful and irrelevant products like petrol, oil paints, mud, and other chemical-based products. These products are not only hazardous to your health but also to the environment. Also, washing off the colors containing such products becomes very difficult. 

5. Save water 

Water is a precious resource. We should use it in a limited amount on occasions like this. Using natural colors is one of the best ways to avoid waste of water, as cleaning them is easy.

Also, considering cleaning these colors from your compounds, buildings, premises, and body, a considerable amount of water can be saved. You can also celebrate dry Holi to save water and make it eco-friendly.

6. Use of eco-friendly disposables 

Holi means celebration, fun, and guests. Instead of using plastic disposables, switch to sugarcane pulp-based eco-friendly tableware. Ecoware manufactures a wide range of eco-friendly compostable tableware. They are user-friendly and backyard compostable. 

In India, eco-friendly Holi is nothing new. Using flower petals and organic colors, Lord Krishna also enjoyed playing the role of a holy man. This time, let's have a green Holi celebration.