So, if this is a report then I am your very own reporter Geetika bringing you the highlights of what's going on in India.

What if some random unknown person comes and drains you in colors? well you'd have all the rights to take a good class of him until and unless it's Holi time !!  

Because as we say : Buraaa Naa Maanoo HoLi Hai !! ((No anger and no fear, it's Holi my dear ! )) 

To start with: you have me shouting out loud with joy, right here from New Delhi with love, "Happy Holi to you!!" Well, we are just a week away from Holi and the preparations are in full swing. There is happiness in the air around, excitement in the eyes and joy in each heart !  While Indians know Holi very well, for the convenience of the others who aren't much aware of Holi: - Holi is a Hindu festival celebrated with great enthusiasm in India and some parts of Nepal. In India, almost everyone celebrates it regardless of their religion. Holi is celebrated at the end of the winter season on the last full moon day of the lunar month Phalguna (February/March). Holi is the FESTIVAL OF COLOURS where people play with colours and water. It is a two important features of the  festival : on the first day Holika Pooja takes place where a pile of logs is prayed to and then burnt, on the next day, you have children , youth and old people :Everybody with water guns, water ballons, colours celebrating the Dhulandi.

Playing with colours and water! Although this may be immensely fun, but it has a serious and hazardous impact on the environment. A huge amount of logs (30,000 bonfires each burning approximately 100 kg of wood) are burnt altogether in one season due to Holika Pooja and this leads to deforestation and air pollution. There is a large scale wastage of water and water gets polluted due to synthetic colors used during Holi celebration. In accordance with the previous data, it has been calculated that approximately 2700K gallons of water will be wasted in India during the festival of Holi this year! What a huge amount!! And our work is to reduce the amount and bring it down to the most minimal level. Besides saving water, we need to keep a check on the use of synthetic colours and the burning of Holika nearby and here I give some suggestions to achieve this goal of ours.

Suggestions to make Holi eco-friendly:

.    1.  Instead of burning different Holikas, a single one should be burnt by each community/locality. This works in two ways : With due respect, no attack or prohibition to the culture and customs and secondly it develops a sense of unity among the people that is the most important aspect of any festival.

.    2.  Save Water, Be a Hero! This time try keeping your Holi dry. Use of water balloons may sound fun but there have been instances where it has been injurious. Even if you want to play with water, decide a particular limit and in no way go beyond that.

.    3.  Say No to sprays! Do not use any type of color sprays this Holi. According to a report, most of them are in some way TOXIC!

.     4. Get back to the golden olden times. Earlier Holi was played using petals and sepals of flowers. Give your Holi a traditional touch! Playing Holi with flowers and leaves sounds not only fun but also saves you from the harmful effects of synthetic colours. Prevents pollution along with maintaining the beauty of your skin ).

    5.  Say No to synthetic! For the ones who opt for staying modern, use natural colors instead of the synthetic ones. To prepare natural colors at home:-

>        Red (gulal): powder of rose petals, Dried and grinded hibiscus flower.

>        Green: dried and grinded coriander, spinach, mint or gulmohar.

>        Blue: dried and powdered blue hibiscus flowers. Grated and water soaked beetroot for magenta water color.

>        Saffron: turmeric and sandalwood powder.

>        Yellow: mixing turmeric powder with flour. Soak marigolds in water for getting yellow water color.

All these colors are eco-friendly and have medicinal values too. They not only prevent you from the harms of the synthetic colors but also benefit your skin!

How wonderful it is that celebration and conservation can go hand in hand!

Now with all the eco-friendly mantras ROCK ON this Holi and sprinkle the colors of care and affection on our mother earth too! Festivals rejoice and rejuvenate everyone. Each festival when you think of cleaning your own home then please give a thought to keeping our global home clean too.  

I wish this Holi fills your life with the colors of joy and immense happiness! Once again a Happy and Green Holi to you !!  

Stay happy and keep others happy !