Over past few years herbals colours have become popular in Holi market, the markets are festooned with variety of herbal colours. But, according to experts, people should be careful while dealing with such natural colours as these colours contain chemical substances organic solvents such as ethanol and methanol along with natural herbs that may be harmful for the skin.
Though these colour making companies claim that they use perfumed woods and floral petals in the preparation of herbal colours but it seems some of them try to fleece people as every year in Holi many people suffer from various skin diseases.
Nitish Priyadarshi, city based environmentalist, said “The actual use of herbal colours is done by tribal people of Jharkhand as they prepare the colour with petals of palash flower and mehndi which is free from any chemicals. Rest of the colours available in the market contain large amounts of chemical substance which affects the skin, but as these herbal colours are available at a cheapest price so they are flourishing in the market”
Growing awareness on herbal colours has actually created a shortage of natural colours in the market. Customers feel that they are buying eco friendly colours but they are deprived of the fact that they are actually taking diseases back home.
Dr. A.S. Prasad ,dermatologist, said “Skin problems such as white paches, Allergic Contact Dermatitis are common problems which occur with the use of such herbal colours he further added that people can make natural colours in their kitchen itself which is 100 per cent safe in use”
Neha Keshri, a housewife, said “This year in holi I will make colours in my home itself as the colours in market are not reliable. I will make colours out of the pomegranate peelings which give blood red colour when soaked in water and boiled, green colour from onion peelings, the waste marigold flowers are rich source of orange and yellow colour. From Turmeric, Babbul, kattha, and Beat-roots also will prepare natural colours.”