Holi, being a social celebration, is not limited to one home. To convert it into an environmentally friendly festival, contributions are required from every family in society. The dream of an eco-friendly and non-hazardous Holi can only come true when every individual who participates in the festival makes maximum efforts not to harm the environment in any way. For this, mass-level awareness regarding environmentally friendly celebrations is required. People need to understand that if some small changes in the celebration pattern can bring worthwhile results for the environment, they can then shift towards change in the social sector.
Eco-Friendly Holi Tips
Judicious Use of Water
In a situation where most Indian cities are facing acute water scarcity, it is a matter of concern that precious commodities like water are being wasted during Holi celebrations. On the day of Holi, people, out of enthusiasm and fun, douse each other with buckets of water, and children throw water balloons at each other. Thus, the water that could have been used for the next few weeks is finished in a day, creating more differences in the demand and supply of water. Although celebrating a dry Holi only with Gulal would seem an alien concept to most people, it would be ideal. However, as most people would not agree to it, the judicious use of water on the day is something that must be considered if you wish to celebrate an eco-friendly Holi.
Avoid Using Chemical Colors
Earlier, Holi colors were prepared from the flowers of trees like the Indian Coral Tree (Parijat) and the Flame of the Forest (Kesu). However, with the arrival of dry chemical colors, people stopped taking the pains of extracting flower colors, and over time, the use of chemical and aluminum paints increased during the celebrations. These chemical dyes not only prove extremely dangerous to one's skin but are also hazardous to the environment, as a lot of pollution is caused during their preparation and after their mergence with the water cycle.
Eco-Friendly Bonfire
The burning of fuelwood to perform the Holi Bonfire or Holika Dahan is another factor related to Holi that raises concern. Umpteen useful fuelwood is wasted during this ritual, which not only leads to the cutting of trees but also causes unnecessary pollution. Instead of wooden logs, it would be ideal if people used this Holika Dahan for burning their waste material.
Eco-Friendly Holi Tips
Judicious Use of Water
In a situation where most Indian cities are facing acute water scarcity, it is a matter of concern that precious commodities like water are being wasted during Holi celebrations. On the day of Holi, people, out of enthusiasm and fun, douse each other with buckets of water, and children throw water balloons at each other. Thus, the water that could have been used for the next few weeks is finished in a day, creating more differences in the demand and supply of water. Although celebrating a dry Holi only with Gulal would seem an alien concept to most people, it would be ideal. However, as most people would not agree to it, the judicious use of water on the day is something that must be considered if you wish to celebrate an eco-friendly Holi.
Avoid Using Chemical Colors
Earlier, Holi colors were prepared from the flowers of trees like the Indian Coral Tree (Parijat) and the Flame of the Forest (Kesu). However, with the arrival of dry chemical colors, people stopped taking the pains of extracting flower colors, and over time, the use of chemical and aluminum paints increased during the celebrations. These chemical dyes not only prove extremely dangerous to one's skin but are also hazardous to the environment, as a lot of pollution is caused during their preparation and after their mergence with the water cycle.
Eco-Friendly Bonfire
The burning of fuelwood to perform the Holi Bonfire or Holika Dahan is another factor related to Holi that raises concern. Umpteen useful fuelwood is wasted during this ritual, which not only leads to the cutting of trees but also causes unnecessary pollution. Instead of wooden logs, it would be ideal if people used this Holika Dahan for burning their waste material.