Play Safe, Play Natural, Play Holi The Eco-Friendly Way

Have a Joyous HOLI  '11  

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Idyllically, the festival of Holi is meant for a joyous celebration with carefree attitude. It is done in order to greet the colors of spring. Though, unfortunately the meaning of Holi has not remained the similar in last few decades owing to the ruthless commercialization and source of hazardous Holi products. So, unhappily the modern Holi does not stand for everything beautiful. In fact it has become yet another source of environmental degradation. To de-pollute Holi and evoke in again into an environment friendly fiesta, a lot is required to done.

In this article we have mentioned certain ways in which you can do little steps from your side to change the Holi in your locality into an ECO FRIENDLY HOLI.

• Environment Friendly Holi

Holi being a social celebration is not limited to one home, so in order to convert it into an environment friendly festival, contribution is required from every family of the society. SHREEJI’s dream of eco friendly and non-hazardous Holi can be true only when every individual who participates in the festival, do maximum efforts from his/her side not to hamper the environment in any way. For this, mass level awareness of people regarding an environment friendly celebration is required. People need to understand that if some little changes in the celebration pattern can bring worth results for the environment, how they can then shift towards the change in the social sector.

• Eco Friendly Holi Tips

        Judicious Use of Water

In a situation when most of the Indian cities are facing acute water scarcity, it is obviously a matter of concern that the precious commodity like water is being wasted in such manner during the Holi celebrations. On the day of Holi, people out of enthusiasm and fun saturate each other with buckets of water and children throw water balloons at each other, thus the water that could have used for next few weeks is finished in a day creating more difference in the demand and supply of water. Though, if we just people to celebrate a dry Holi only with ‘Gulal’, it would seem an unfamiliar concept to most of the people. Though this celebration would have been ideal but as most of the people would not agree to it, the judicious use of water on the day is one thing that must be kept in concern if you wish to celebrate an eco friendly Holi.

        Avoid Using Chemical Colors

In ancient time, the Holi colors were prepared from the flowers of trees like Indian Coral Tree (parijat) and the flame of the Forest (kesu). However, with the influx of dry chemical colors, people stopped taking pence for extracting the flowers colors and with time the use of chemical and aluminum paints increased during the celebrations. These chemical dyes not only prove extremely dangerous to individual’s skin but are also hazardous for environment as lots of pollution is caused during its preparation as well as after their mergence with water cycle.

        Eco Friendly Bonfire

The burning of fuel wood in order to perform the Holi Bonfire or the Holika Dahan presents is another factor related to Holi that raises a factor of concern. Umpteen useful fuel woods is wasted during this ritual, this not only leads to the cutting of trees but also unnecessary pollution in return. Instead of wooden logs, it would be ideal if people use this Holika Dahan for burning their waste material.

But when there is fun and festivity, it is so easy to get carried away. However, why risk your life and nature for short-lived exhilaration?

With best regards, SHREEJI ceramic wishing you all a joyous and vibrant ecofriendly Holi.

Holi hai!!

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Pratik Patel (BDM)

Shreeji Ceramic