Natural Dyes Adopted As Many Reimagine A Greener Holi
NEW DELHI — As India prepared for Holi, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change turned the spotlight on nature based colors, urging communities to celebrate without compromising health or the environment.
The ministry conducted hands on workshops across Eco Clubs nationwide, teaching students how to prepare natural Holi colors from everyday ingredients.
In classrooms transformed into vibrant laboratories, students learned to extract green from fresh leafy vegetables, red from beetroot, yellow from turmeric, and orange from palash flowers. By replacing synthetic powders with biodegradable alternatives, they learned to reduce exposure to harmful chemicals that often find their way into water bodies and soil after the festivities.
The workshops were designed not only to demonstrate how colors could be made, but also to embed environmental awareness into daily habits. The campaign gathered momentum across schools, with students emerging as advocates of eco friendly celebrations within their communities.
Beyond classrooms, the shift toward eco friendly colours was also visible in local markets. In Nagpur, demand for organic gulal grew steadily, reflecting a broader consumer preference for safer alternatives.
Among those driving this transition was the Adamane family, whose association with natural color making spans three generations. Roshan Adamane credited his grandfather with starting the business and said the family continued to prioritize safety over profits.
Their gulal was made using arrowroot powder as the base, blended with food grade colours. The mixture was prepared with water, sun dried, filtered, and packaged to produce seven to eight shades, including green, blue, red, and yellow. The products were supplied across the Vidarbha region and to parts of Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh.
For the family, the motivation extended beyond commerce. They saw their work as a way to help people celebrate Holi without harming themselves or the environment.
