By IANS
New Delhi : Play Holi with eco-friendly colours made from beetroot, berries, spinach, mint, onion and peels of pomegranate, says Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit.
“Most of the artificial colours are made of synthetic chemicals containing harmful elements like lead and cadmium. They are responsible for many skin diseases, asthma and even cancer,” Dikshit says in an advertisement published Wednesday.
Officials in the Chief Minister’s Office said that a series of advertisements would be released in newspapers and television channels to spread awareness about the ill effects of chemicals-based colours.
In her colour prescription, Dikshit has said that citizens should obtain red colours from “peels of pomegranate and rose petals”.
Berries of the Indigo plant or crushed dry jacaranda flowers can make blue colour. For green, she suggests that “pastes of mint and spinach leaves” be used.
Similarly, she advises that “crushed dry marigold flower petals or turmeric and gram flour (besan)” be used for making yellow colour. Dikshit writes that magenta colour can be made from beetroot and onions.
“Remember Holi is holy not hooliganism. Play Holi naturally,” she advises people.
Officials at the Chief Minister’s Office said herbal colours were now available at the offices of many residents’ welfare associations and at some CNG stations.