Looking for natural Holi colours? You will find them here

Every Holi celebration is incomplete without colours or gulaal. While it’s true that the joy of playing Holi with your loved ones with these colourful powders is unmatched, the downside to using artificial and synthetic chemical-based colours is the skin problems that they cause. These pigments may also be harmful to the environment. The best alternative then is to switch to organic gulaal made with natural ingredients. Here’s a list of five online stores where you can purchase organic or natural Holi colours, and indulge in an eco-friendly celebration this year.

Made by people with special needs

Avacayam Foundation, an employment programme for people with disabilities, works to promote the wonderful items that homegrown artists with special needs can make. 

“This initiative is primarily driven by two core motivations. The first is the preservation and conservation of nature. And second, we seek to support the improvement of the lives of people with disabilities from impoverished sections of society,” said Dr. Madhumita Puri, founder and CEO of Avacayam. 

These Holi colours are made by disabled and talented artists at Avacayam with used flowers, often donated by families, banquet halls or temples. 

“By using organic colours, we can ensure that Holi remains a joyous and vibrant celebration without the threat of adverse health effects,” Puri reiterated. 

Disabled individuals and people with special needs also make a range of natural Holi colours at Tattvalogy, an organic skincare brand. Using temple flowers and other natural ingredients such as rose petal powder, marigold flowers, henna powder and other plant-based products, they promote a sustainable celebration while embracing inclusivity and eco-friendliness. 

Handcrafted by women from Bhil tribe 

For many generations, the Bhil community has been creating natural colours for Holi as well as other celebrations. Monks Bouffe now seeks to support livelihood and help this craft thrive through Abeer, a range of Holi colours handcrafted by women belonging to the Bhil tribe in Rajasthan. Made using ingredients like Ganganagari rose petals, beetroot, palash (flame of the forest) flowers and Mewar turmeric, the product range comprises pink, green, yellow and orange gulaal which is skin-friendly, environment friendly as well as edible! 

Animal cruelty-free range

A popular online store that sells handicrafts, handmade fabrics, accessories and more sourced by traditional artisans, Gwalior-based Itokri caters to domestic as well as global enthusiasts of Indian handicraft and handloom products. Alongside hundreds of authentic handicrafts, the website also offers a variety of eco-friendly Holi colours that are skin-friendly and animal cruelty-free. This vibrant gulaal range features multiple variants with playful names like “Peela Hathi”, “Hara Kachhua” and “Gulabi Gaay” among others, which makes the browsing experience all the more fun. 

Colours from temple flowers

Temple flower waste contributes greatly to river pollution, and the practice of discarding the petals offered to deities in water bodies is seen across the country. Determined to save the Ganga and recycle temple flowers, Phool has embarked on a mission to give the discarded flowers another chance to spread their goodness. Created by women from local communities, Phool offers a wide range of natural Holi colours made from discarded temple flowers, other eco-friendly ingredients and essential oils. The product range includes gulaal with a soft texture which are skin-friendly and easy to wash off. The colourful packaging makes it an attractive gifting option too. 

The lead image at the top shows Holi celebrations at Nandgaon village in Uttar Pradesh. (Photo courtesy Shutterstock)

Aditi Sahoo is a second-year BA student at Lady Shri Ram College, New Delhi. Aditi is passionate about communication, writing and research.