00 Bihan Didis of Bastar will mix natural colours in Holi
Raipur. Under the National Rural Livelihood Mission, herbal gulal is being made by colouring vegetables with natural colours and adding rose, marigold, petals of palash flowers, rose water, perfume etc. to it. Saffron gulal is being prepared from palash flowers, green gulal from spinach and red gulal from red vegetables. As this gulal is not using any chemical substances, it is not harmful for the skin, eyes, hair etc. Being human friendly, this herbal gulal can be used in the festival of Holi without any worry.

This time in Bastar district, the festival of Holi will not only be full of colours but will also be safe for health and environment. Under the National Rural Livelihood Mission (Bihar), a commendable initiative has been taken by the district administration towards economically empowering rural women. Under this, women from 9 self-help groups of different development blocks of the district are being given special training in making herbal gulal. In this two-day residential training organized at the revolutionary Debaridhur Horticulture College and Research Centre, Jagdalpur, women are learning to prepare gulal using natural resources in modern and scientific ways.

The most special feature of this unique initiative is that women will prepare rainbow colored gulal using natural ingredients found in their kitchens and gardens like spinach, red spinach, beetroot and flowers. Synthetic colors and gulal available in the market often contain harmful chemicals that cause skin irritation, allergies and eye damage. Keeping these problems in mind, Bihan's didis will produce completely skin-disease free and eco-friendly gulal by mixing beetroot and spinach extracts in a corn flower baseFollowing the training, the women have set a goal of producing 500 to 1,000 kilograms of herbal gulal this year. A comprehensive action plan has been developed to make the produced gulal accessible to the public, with special stalls set up at key locations in Jagdalpur city and various government offices. This pure indigenous gulal will also be sold in local markets at the district level. For these women associated with Bihan, this is not just a process of making colors; it is also becoming a powerful means of propelling them to new heights of self-employment and self-reliance. This effort will not only increase the income of the women of Bastar, but will also provide ordinary citizens with the option of celebrating a safe and happy Holi, away from the dangers of chemicals.