ENVIS Centre: Assam
Status of Environment and Related Issues

Holi is the most colourful festival of India. It is the festival with a beautiful blend of vibrant colours and the great indulgence of celebrations that add life to the day of fiesta. This colourful festival of holi is to celebrate the victory of almighty over the demon and make us all realize the power of goodness.

But while we are engrossed in celebrations we also need to realize the importance of environment around us. 

The Holi colours are prepared from harmful substances such as acids, mica, glass powder and alkalis. They ar not readily degradable under natural conditions and are typically not removed from waste water by conventional waste water treatments. Thus, several bacteria have been found to decolourise, transform and completely mineralise coloured soil and water in both aerobic and anaerobic conditions. Harsh chemicals used in the colours can cause itching and rashes which can lead to eczema or dermatitis. Dry skin leaves a lot of scope for damage from these harmful chemicals as the skin layer allows the colour to penetrate easily. Those with a history of eczema or atopic dermatitis run greater risk as they develop allergic contact dermatitis more readily which manifest in itching, rashes and swelling.

 It is our responsibility to take care of it. So this time let us celebrate holi in an eco-friendly way. An eco-friendly celebration of holi will be no less than the way we actually celebrate it. Below are few environmental friendly ways to celebrate holi to the fullest & simultaneously taking care of the environment. In earlier times when festival celebrations were not so much commercialized Holi colors were prepared from the flowers of trees that blossomed during spring, such as the Indian Coral Tree (parijat) and the Flame of the Forest (Kesu), both of which have bright red flowers. These and several other blossoms provided the raw material from which the brilliant shades of Holi colours were made. Most of these trees also had medicinal properties and Holi colors prepared from them were actually beneficial to the skin. ENVIS Hub Assam gas prepered a leaflet carry out a Safe Holy Campaign.