Holi is a few days away and shops selling organic colours are hoping to do brisk business Four boiled beetroots soaked overnight and mixed in water. Or, turmeric and channa dal powder stirred in water. “There I have red and yellow gulal…” Archana Shah rattles off a list of colour-powders made with vegetables. If her plan is executed, she is certain of making an impression this Holi (March 27) among friends at her apartment complex on Dr. Raja Annamalai Road, Purasawalkam. The only problem is the inordinate time it will take to have all the ingredients ready. Archana is among a small but growing group of Holi revellers who use colour-powders made from vegetables and fruits. Merchants cater to this group by stocking eco-friendly powders. A few shops on Devaraja Mudali Street and N.S.C. Bose Road point to a growing inclination towards an organic Holi. A number of turmeric and kumkum merchants there
think eco-friendly colours are replacing synthetic ones. “Those who buy in large quantities want eco-friendly colours,” says Kumar who runs K.G.Ragava Chettiar
Turmeric and Kumkum Merchant store. Organic gulal is sourced from Rajasthan, Gujarat and Maharashatra. “Getting raw
materials and sufficient water in the city being difficult, we source gulal from our factory in Ankleshwar, Gujarat,” says Lalith Kumar Mehta, manager at Sree Ganapathy Colour Company. With Holi round the corner shops selling organic colours are hoping to see good business.
Source : www.thehindu.com