Holi Colors: Indians celebrate a variety of beautiful festivals every year. One of the Indian festivals is Holi. Holi is a beautiful Hindu festival celebrated in India and Nepal.
Holi is known as the festival of colours. Thus the festival is celebrated with colored powder commonly known as Gulal and water. People use different types of colours for the Holi celebration. Not only humans but pets and animals are also seen coloured during the Holi festival. Some of the food and drink are also prepared with colours and share love and affection with their family, and friends. We can see colourful faces and clothes on our bodies on this day.
But are you aware of the colours having harmful ingredients? Many of us are not aware of the potential side effects of chemically rich colours used on Holi festivals.
Here, we will know the comprehensive details of Holi colours. We will know the types of Holi colours, chemical compositions, and harmful effects in detail. You should be aware of these colours to make the festival safe and healthy for everyone.
Types of Holi Color
As we get closer to the day of the Holi festival, different types of Holi colours are seen in the market. Do you know how many types of Holi colours are there in the market? Holi colours are mainly available in three forms
- Paste Colors
- Dry Colors
- Wet Colors
Paste Color:
Paste Colors are neither liquid nor solid or dry form. It is prepared by mixing solid and liquid in definite proportions.
Chemical Composition & Side Effects
The metallic pastes are tremendously toxic here is the list of colours and chemicals used and their side effects.
Holi Colors Table
| S.N. | Name of Colors | Chemical Composition | Side Effects |
| 1. | Black Color | Lead Oxide | Renal Failure |
| 2. | Green Color | Copper Sulphate | Eye Allergy, Puffiness, and Temporary Blindness |
| 3. | Silver Color | Aluminum Bromide | Carcinogenic |
| 4. | Blue Color | Prussian Blue | Contact Dermatitis |
| 5. | Red Color | Mercury Sulphide | Highly Toxic can cause Skin Cancer |
Dry Color:
In India, Dry colours are commonly known as Gulal. On the day of the Holi festival. it is the main weapon found in every hand. But you should be very careful and know how to use Holi powder.
Chemical Composition & Side Effects
Dry colours are a colourant mixed with a filler base. In chemical colour, these are usually toxic heavy metals and asbestos or silica.
Heavy metals are known to be systemic toxins that disrupt the body’s metabolic functions and body’s vital organs such as the kidney, liver, and bones.
Asbestos and silica are extremely dangerous for our bodies. Here is the list of chemicals and their side effects on our bodies.
| S.N. | Name of Heavy Metals | Side Effects |
| 1. | Lead | Learning Disabilities, Highly toxic for children, affect vital organs and affect the unborn baby |
| 2. | Chromium | Bronchial Asthma, Allergies |
| 3. | Cadmium | Itai Ita disease (Fragile Bones) |
| 4. | Nickel | Dermatitis Pneumonia |
| 5. | Copper | Affects the eyes, skin, respiratory system, liver, and Kidney |
| 6. | Mercury | Affect the Kidney, Liver, Nervous System, and Unborn baby |
| 7. | Zinc | Fever |
| 8. | Iron | Skin becomes sensitive to light |
| 9. | Silica | Skin dries and chaps |
| 10. | Asbestos | Carcinogenic in small quantities build up in the body |
Water Colors:
Chemical Composition & Side Effects
One commonly available water colourant used during Holi is Gentian Violet, a highly toxic and hazardous chemical. Exposure to Gentian Violet leads to severe skin ailments and eye problems.
Precaution
Colors are chemically rich thus we need to keep precautions during the Holi festival celebration. It is important to use natural and organic colours during the Holi festival.
To remain safe from the potential side effects of harmful colors we need to take some precautions during the Holi festival. Holi is a festival of joy and happiness. To have a safe and healthy festival.
Some of the facts say that the use of colour and Abeer on the body helps to strengthen the ions of the body and add health and beauty to it.
Holi is celebrated to spread love and brotherhood. Holi is celebrated to make others laugh and live their life happily to forget all problems and hurdles for a moment.
