BE SAFE THAN SORRY AFTER HOLI

MY IANS STORY ON PLAYING SAFE HOLI

Be safe than sorry after Holi

vnbalakrishna . <vnbalakrishna@gmail.com>
3/20/08

From VN Balakrishna
Be safe than sorry after Holi
Ahmedabad, March 20(IANS): ‘Arya Sanskriti,’ a food store situated here in the heart of the city has been selling herbal colours for Holi. “For us it is a mission to revive Indian culture. Amid plethora of health hazards that we face everyday one of the most dangerous is the chemicals laced Holi colours. So our mission has been to make products that are safe for health,” says Mitun K Shah who runs the store.

“I belong to the Jain community and the Jain community has taken a lead in making India a eco-friendly nation. It’s our mission to revive Indian culture and practices. We therefore began selling natural and chemical-free products when we opened this store two years ago,” Mr Shah said.

We buy the herbs and grind it and sell these natural Holi colours. Anyone can buy it, not necessarily from my shop, to safeguard their health. Our colours are not only cheaper but safer. The chemical colours sell at Rs 60 per kilo while our herbal danger-free Holi colours costs only Rs 50 per 1.5 kg, Mr Shah told IANS.

. Red and black colours that are used today to play Holi is a derivative of benzene, a chemical substance banned in India because of its proven cancer causing properties and yet it is still used by the industry,” he said.

If analysed properly the deceptive Holi colours that people use due to ignorance contains black lead oxide that can cause renal failure, learning disability, Mr Shah said. Green copper sulphate causes eye allergy and temporary blindness while purple chromium iodide leads to bronchial asthma. Silver aluminium bromide is extremely carcinogenic while

red mercury sulphide causes skin cancer, mental retardation, paralysis, impaired vision etc, Mr Shah said. Also nowadays it is common to see some colours sparkling. This is due to finely powdered mica added to the colours. If this mica enters the eyes it can cause blindness. Also all these harmful colours seep into subsoil and rivers increasing pollution with a long term ecological damage..What is worrisome is that ecology once damaged is irreversible, opined Mr Shah.

When these chemical colours are washed after the Holi is played they require immensely large amount of water, that too which is used for drinking. These chemical pigments after they are washed from the body reach the soil directly when it is splashed all around or through the gutters. Once the rains fall the dormant chemicals seep into subsoil and ultimately reach rivers and ponds. Also in contrast the herbal colours do not need so much water. Why waste precious water? Mr Shah asked.

Another reason for ecological degradation is the burgeoning chemical textile dye industry that is the most polluting industry. These chemical colours are so strong that they have bene polluting all natural sources of water, ” Mr Shah lamented.

In natural Holi colours prepared from ayurvedic herbs there is fun and protection too. They protect the skin throughout the year and bring back the skin’s natural glow as these herbs stimulate the skin glands, Mr Shah said. These colours also enhance beauty and come in range of red, black, maroon, green, peach, brown, golden yellow, white and many other shades. They consist of amla , haldi , shankhjira, henna, masoor, etc. Also the prices of these herbal colours in easy-to-buy pouches vary from Rs 5 to Rs 12 per 100 gms, he added.
IANS VNB 0944

………………………………..Composition of a Few Holi Colours
Chemical Colour …….Composition …………………………….Health Effects
Black ……….. Lead Oxide …….Renal Failure, Learning disability
Green ……………….Copper Sulphate Eye Allergy, Temporary blindness
Purple ……………….Chromium iodide Bronchial asthma, Allergies
Silver …………………..Aluminium Bromide Carcinogenic
Red Mercury…….. Sulphite Skin cancer, Minamata disease (mental retardation, paralysis, impaired vision…)