Celebrating Holi to the fullest

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.

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.

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 !!