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Safe, secure and colourful... a herbal Holi
WITH HOLI round the corner, the bazaar is abuzz with not only traditional items associated with the annual festival of colours like pichkaris, gulals and the like but many other products specially rolled out for the occasion.
Well, no point complaining that commercialisation has crept into all our festivals. It has, but if you cannot stop it, then perhaps you could join it. And here's how:
Amid growing awareness about the dangers of using Holi colours due to presence of chemicals, the market is now growing for herbal gulals. Made from flower petals and other herbs, they are available in vibrant colours at the Central Cottage Industries Emporium at Janpath. The choice of natural colours is among liquid, paste and powder. Another spot to pick up herbal Holi packs can be the TRIFED-run shop, Tribes at Mahadev Road. But if you cannot make it to any of these places, then arrange a visit to Dilli Haat where Development Alternatives, a city-based Non-Governmental Organisation is also selling herbal gulal in various sizes and hues.
And, if you want to give Dilli Haat too a miss, then walk into your local market and ask for Haridarshan gulal. Purported to be widely available, besides being herbal and skin-friendly, it is perfumed too. Also, there is a range of herbal colour spray - Rasrang - in the market now. Interestingly, with every pack of the spray, you will find a lucky draw coupon with attractive prizes, the first one being air fare to Malaysia.
Not stopping at selling gulal alone, the Cottage Industries Emporium has come out with a range of exquisite handicrafts and handlooms also. Available for sale are children's kurtas, lehenga-cholis, colourful dupattas, pichkaris and buckets for children in brass and bamboo, white metal boxes to serve gujjiyas and colourfully splashed pottery to make the occasion alive and playful.
In case you decide to own that lehenga choli, the need perhaps may arise for a bit of make-up for the occasion. International cosmetic brand Oriflame can help you out. It has brought out a special collection this Holi "keeping in mind the tender care that the skin demands while playing with harsh colours".
The product range includes Aloe face wash, Swedish care deep cleansing scrub, Lash advanced waterproof mascara and shampoos, besides a range of lipsticks in shades like Party Purple, Golden Diva, Quicksilver and Definitely Red, all to jazz up the festive evening. Prices begin at Rs.49.
Still, if you need a few skin care tips, then here arrives well-known beauty therapist Blossom Kochhar with a few do's and don'ts. She not only advises revellers to play with herbal colours but also suggests they only go for the dry versions. A protective skin oil on the exposed parts of the skin before playing Holi would be a good idea.
However, Blossom insists that cleaning the skin finally of all the colours is the most important aspect. Do not rub the skin vigorously with soaps, etc. to wipe the face of gulal but instead, opt for a cleanser. Follow this up with lots of moisturiser, specially one that is meant for sensitive skin. Her Aroma Magic range, she claims, can serve the purpose of skin care during Holi.
Not deciding to be left behind, the Khadi and Village Industries Commission celebrated the annual festival of colours with a cultural evening last week itself at Pragati Maidan. Also, the same week, the venue had another Holi celebration with peppy songs voiced by Sushmita Deb, Renuka, Channi Mastana and Mukesh.
Splashing `colour' in the Indian mobile phone market, the company, Samsung has grabbed the opportunity to introduce a new range of cellular phone sets. In colours blue, red, white, beige, grey etc, the sets have rich polyphonic ring tones, health monitoring device etc. and are priced from Rs. 14,999 onwards.
And now, something for children. A 400-gram pack of Top Ramen's smoodles costing Rs.34 will get you a pichkari absolutely free. But, the offer is valid only in select cities and also till stocks last.
So, here's to the festival of blazing colours - and hopefully no blazing skin, no blazing tempers either. Happy Holi!
SANGEETA BAROOAH PISHAROTY
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Metro Plus
Bangalore
Chennai
Coimbatore
Delhi
Hyderabad
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Madurai
Thiruvananthapuram
Visakhapatnam
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