Holi, being just around the corner, is the most fun-filled and vibrant festival of colors for which everybody waits all the year-round. In a country like India, known for its huge diversity with many cultures, rituals and festivals, Holi unites the whole country in a rainbow of colors. Although sprouting from the ancient culture of India and celebrated for the victory of good over evil, Holi brings a sense of liberation to all who partake in it.
Holi dissolves the unseen barriers created by race, caste, creed, religion with its vibrant colors and drenches everyone without any biases, creating a sense of belonging. This sense of belonging is further elevated as this festival gives you an opportunity to let loose in the celebration of everything that is full of life, energy and youthfulness.
With the liberty to wear any comfortable clothing without giving a hoot to your appearance, Holi begins with the epic one-liner of "bura na mano Holi hai!" The sound of old songs coming from someone's backyard and buckets filled with colored water containing water guns line up in front of everyone's door
Children armed with water balloons and water guns, running around in apprehension that within a second they will be drenched in colors makes Holi all the more entertaining. In between playing Holi, we indulge in mouth-watering delicacies consisting of appetizing gujiyas with various fillings and flavors. And finishes it off with the soul appeasing thandai made with various nuts to rejuvenate and recharge their batteries for another round of splashing colors makes Holi everyone's favorite.
After painting the town with bright colors, eating lip-smacking food and beverages, cleaning up is a big project in itself. Things take a humorous turn when the bright traces of colors decide to stay. One ends up looking like a varied version of the popular macaw. Some colors tend to stay longer and might cause skin allergies or rashes. The epic saga of your hair woes begins after you have been done and dusted with Holi colors.
Enjoy the sheer essence of Holi this year without breaking your head over how to recoup over the aftermath of Holi. Following are some safety tips for Holi which will help you to plan your Holi with ease:
Go for dry Holi!
Playing a dry Holi must be preferred for better safety concerns. Climate change is turning into a reality with each passing day, so the more water we conserve, the more water we save for tomorrow!
Few health tips for Holi:
- Wash your hands each time you eat anything and avoid any tummy issues the morning after.
- Apart from the thandai, remember to drink plenty of water to stay cool and away from dehydration! All the chasing around with your friends and dancing to the Holi tunes will definitely make you thirsty. So keep your water handy.
- Let go of the vibrant toxic chemical colors even if they are convenient and easy on the pockets! Instead, opt for herbal colors. The bright unique chemical colors may look beautiful but pose severe health concerns for people using them!
- To protect your eyes, put on those cool shades which you have been waiting to wear. If you think any color has gone inside your eyes, rinse them immediately with cold water!
Some Holi tips for skin and hair to save your time from salons and dermatologists:
- To save your next pocket pinch from the salon after Holi, opt for herbal colors. Ingredients like turmeric or marigold flowers make an excellent yellow color without making your skin dry! Use beetroot, hibiscus flowers for more exciting natural colors.
- Wear loose and long-sleeved cotton clothes which allow your body to breathe freely. Cotton keeps you comfortable amidst all that running around or chasing friends, protecting you from the sun, sweat and tanning.
- Remember to apply moisturizer or coconut oil generously on yourself. Use a sunscreen with a high SPF. The sunscreen will help you keep the tan at bay. The moisturizer or the coconut oil forms a protective cover on your skin, helping the colors to wash off easily and leaving your skin soft and supple after Holi.
- Apply dollops of coconut oil in your hair. Let your hair soak all the nourishment before being engulfed in colors. This will keep your luscious locks safe and shining and not too frizzy or brittle.
- Resist rubbing or brushing off your skin after playing Holi as that might lead to rashes or irritation on certain sensitive skins. Keep an aloe vera gel in that sling bag if the situation arises.
Check out the tips for removing Holi color and avoid scrubbing yourself red:
- Since Holi normally falls in the summers, wash the colors with cold water. Stay far from hot water in the hot season as that may cause further irritation.
- Avoid splashing your skin repeatedly with water. Instead, dab the colored skin with coconut oil.
- In dire need to get back your glossy locks, use a homemade shampoo with ingredients like Indian gooseberry, shikakai and reetha. You can also mix lemon juice with curd and apply it on your hair. These tricks will help you to wash off the Holi colors from your hair easily.
- To remove the colors from your face, use natural ingredients easily available at home depending on your skin types. For the oily skin, use multani-mitti and glycerin. People with normal skin opt for a face pack made with masoor dal, flour, rose water, and haldi. People with dry skin can try out homemade face packs with natural ingredients like soybean flour, milk, glycerin and sea salt.
- Avoid getting any treatment on your face or hair and let it obtain its natural balance with ease.
- Wondering if there are any ways to remove colors from your clothes too? Try washing them quickly after Holi with ingredients like vinegar or lemon. Check out these methods once or you can always use these bright scraps of clothes as doormats, curtains or even mops!
Follow these safety tips for Holi to keep the hazards at bay:
- Keep a protective eye on your little cousins, friends and children. Holi colors make it pretty difficult to recognize your own kith and kin.
- Dodge the streets on Holi and avoid being honked or hit by cars. Play in open spaces or on playgrounds.
- Keep a first aid kit handy. People in their zealousness of Holi might tend to trip or fall. Overindulging in food might cause stomach upheavals. Keep a stock of band-aids, herbal skin ointments, anti-allergic available in your first-aid kit. Never hurts to keep your doctor's number on speed dial too!
- If you want to surprise your neighborhood friends with colors, use the sidewalks. Refrain from walking on the main roads although it is a national holiday with fewer cars plying.
- Keep your little dogs and cats or any kind of pets safe as colored faces might make them anxious. Remember Holi is only for humans.
- We are foodies at heart, each festival in India calls for specialized sweets! Use home-made ingredients for the sweets as the market products like khoya might be adulterated.
Celebrate this festival of colors safely yet enjoy it to its fullest. Spend time with your family and friends and bask in the day filled with warmth and belonging!
