KOZHISSERI, NEW DELHI, March 04, 2001: Holi, the Indian festival of colors, will see the use of natural colors made from the extracts of flowers and fruit this year, to the relief of those worried about hazardous chemical colors being smeared on them. “We can get yellow from the ‘tesu’ plant, black from husk and blue from ‘neel’ and many more colors that are completely natural and safe,” said Vandana Shiva, a noted environmental activist speaking at the program Abir Gulal (named after the colored powder used on Holi), organized by Navdanya, a movement to protect biodiversity. The natural colors will be sold in the capital’s Dilli Haat fairgrounds by Navdanya. Often industrial colors are used could cause cancer. We have always stressed toxic-free food, and it is time for toxic-free color,” Shiva said. Generally, people play Holi with commercial colors, with carcinogenic properties such as aluminum bromide. “The natural colors will save health and protect nature,” said Shiva.
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