With the coming of Holi festival , streets are full of
vendors selling gulal and pichkaaris .
Places are a buzz with brightness and pomp with all the colors to pep our spirits. More than adults the kids are
excited to get new pichkaaris and ballons to start planning ahead for ways to trick the
passer bys.
Markets today are full of innovative pichkaaris which look more
like a science project with every passing year.
Kids are more concerned about the magnanimity of the gadget
now…really .... it’s no less than a gadget now days !
We have also moved towards playing an organic holi.Non toxic colors made from dried flowers are very much in
vogue nowadays.
Gone are the days when gujjias were fried at home by mom. Shops retail innovative shapes and flavors of gujjias to soothe our taste buds. You even get roasted and sugarfree gujjias :-)
With the new face of Holi , it is very rare that people play it at
homes with the fear that the marble flooring will spoil. Which is good because as it is condominiums don’t
provide enough space inside home . So we have a celebration together in the
central park . This saves the mess at home and water wastage. Which is good
because you tend to connect with so many new people and those that you have not
greeted since long.
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Celebrating Holi |
For the logic inclined minds, here is another reason to go out
and play Holi rather than just propping in front of tv as any other holiday.
Holi has lot of scientific benefits too. It is really
interesting to know here some scientific facts to the making of holi.
Holi comes at a time when weather is on the verge of a
change and this causes people to feel sleepy and lazy. A natural lethargy sets
in because of change from cold to warm surroundings.. To counteract this
tardiness of the body, the tradition of singing and dancing loudly was
formulated. This time also coincides with the harvesting of crops after which
the farmers tend to relax and celebrate by dancing with colors . All of this
helps to rejuvenate not only the body systems but mental happiness also.
Today we have studied so much about the impact of colors on
our mind and body. Thankfully our forefathers were already aware of it. Playing
with colorful gulal is actually a color therapy. Remember the song ‘ Holi ke
din dil mil jaate hain….’ Well actually it's true , the colors make your mood so light
and happy that you tend to forget all animosities and play with all friends and
family.
Biologists believe the liquid dye or Abeer penetrates the body and
enters into the pores. It has the effect of strengthening the ions in the body
and adds health and beauty to it.
Burning of Holika too has a scientific reason to it. The mutation period of winter and spring,
induces the growth of bacteria in the atmosphere as well as in the body. When
Holika is burnt, temperature rises to about 145 degrees Fahrenhiet. Following
the tradition when people perform Parikrima(going around)
around the fire, the heat from the fire kills the bacteria in the body thus,
cleansing it.
The way Holi is celebrated in south, the festival also
promotes good health. For, the day after the burning of Holika people put ash
(Vibhuti) on their forehead and they would mix Chandan (sandalpaste) with the
young leaves and flowers of the Mango tree and consume it to promote good
health.
Some also believe that play with colours help to promote
good health as colours are said to have great impact on our body and our
health. Western-Physicians and doctors believe that for a healthy body, colours
too have an important place besides the other vital elements. Deficiency of a
particular colour in our body causes ailment, which can be cured only after
supplementing the body with that particular colour.
People also start cleaning-up their houses on Holi to start
preparing to opening of closed windows after the cold and let the spring breeze
come in . This helps getting rid of all the accumulated dust and mess in the house. A clean house
generally makes the residents feel good and generate positive energies.
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Happy Holi |
Tips: Before playing Holi
Body: It’s also a good idea to apply a thick layer of
moisturizer, petroleum jelly or coconut oil on your face and other exposed
parts of the body to prevent colours from coming into direct contact with your
skin.
Hair: Oil your hair and scalp with olive, coconut or
castor oil. Add a few drops of lemon juice to prevent dandruff and infection
triggered by the chemical colours.
Clothing: What you choose to wear should cover maximum
parts of your body. Wear dark colour-full sleeves cotton clothes. Synthetic
cloth would be sticky and denims would be heavy once you have a bucket full of
colours/water splashed on you.
Lips and Eyes: Don’t wear lenses. Mostly people are
interested in applying surprise colours on your face and you may get your eyes
hurt by the lenses. Use a sun glass to protect your eyes from a misfire of
colour filled darts or water jets. Apply a lip balm for your lips.
Water: Drink plenty of water before you start playing
Holi. This will keep your skin hydrated. Also keep sipping water carefully
while playing Holi.
Bhang/Alcohol: Don’t consume bhang if you are a heart
patient, excessive intake may lead to heart attack/failure.
Tips: After playing Holi
- Do not scrub the colour off with soap. Soaps contain esters
that erode the skin layers and often cause rashes. Use a cream-based cleanser
or you can even use oil for removing the colours, and then go for a bath. Applying 'Ubtan' : paste of besan , haldi , oil/milk with water is best to remove the colors.
- Apply
a lot of moisturising cream to keep the skin hydrated.
- If the colours are still left on your skin you can apply
besan with milk/milk cream on your body for removing colours.
- Don’t use kerosene, spirit or petrol to clean your face. Try
a cream-based cleanser or baby oil.
- Don’t use hot water, it will stick the colour on your body.
Use normal water.
- Stay away from sunlight till colour is removed.
- Itching in eye or redness may be normal but if it continues
for more than few hours immediately contact with a doctor.
So get all set people ....have the most out of this Holi...play it to the fullest !!