Color is the first thing which strikes when the word Holi comes. It is unexplainable to describe Holi without colors.

Holi an Indian festival is indeed the most colorful festival celebrated on planet earth.

There are various Hindu mythological tales attached with the history of Holi, most widespread is the story of Prahlad, Holika and Hiranakshyap.

Since ages, Holi is celebrated in various forms in India, though majority of people play it by throwing colorful powders or colored water to each other. The only thing which has altered highly is the color of Holi. In older times, colors of holi were made from herbs and flowers.

Nowadays, the holi colors sold in the market are mixture of rusty metals or dyes mixed with harmful industrial oils which might increase the risk of many physical drawbacks.

However, there is no other way to celebrate Holi without colors, trend of herbal or organic colors are most preferred and best substitute of other harmful colors. Herbal colors are also environment friendly.

Udaipur’s Department of Forest has come up with an innovative way to promote herbal colors made by SHG (Self Help Group) women residing in villages of Chaukadia and Undari. These colors are 100% natural and prepared in 4 different shades of pink, orange, green and yellow.

Pink color is made from rose petals, orange is made from a flower called palash, green is made from leaves and yellow is a mixture of amaltas and genda.

Firoz Hussain (first from left in photo above) – forester (Dept. of Forest, Udaipur) who initiated this plan said that “organic colors are good for health; it is good for nature’s health too. This project of ours is going on from last 4-5 years and every year we notice good increase in our sale as people are becoming more health and environment concerned.”

He further added, “Forest department gives all profit to women’s of SHG to motivate them; these colors are sold in 250gms pack which cost around 25-30 rupees per pack.”

“The basic method of preparing these colors are simple, after selecting flowers, boil it till the color comes out, concentrate it to make it into a bright colored paste and finally dry and grind to make it into a powdery form.” said Firoz Hussain.

Though there are not many choices of colors but it counts less when question of health comes.

Varsha Sharma an employee in private firm said, “my friends and family prefer holi with herbal colors only, after all it’s a festival of joy and happiness, what could be better than going natural?”

How will you play holi, Green or greasy holi? Choices are many and but choice will be yours.

Herbal Colors are available at Department of Forest, Udaipur near Chetak Circle, opp to Mohta Park.