New Delhi, March 1 . The festival of Holi is an integral part of Indian culture, which is celebrated as a festival of joy, happiness and colours. This day is not only famous for the play of colours, but it is also an opportunity to hug each other, forget the bad and give the message of love and brotherhood. When it comes to the colours of Holi, we often do not think about the story of playing colours on this festival and what is the history of colours from ancient times to the modern era?
The history of colours is very old. In ancient India, colours were not only used for beauty and happiness, but they also had an important place in Ayurveda and treatment. These colours were believed to have a deep effect on the body and mind. Like red colour was a symbol of energy and excitement, blue colour was a symbol of peace and balance, green colour was a symbol of freshness and greenery, and yellow colour was a symbol of happiness and mental peace. All these colours have been a part of Indian life, and were used not only in festivals, but also in medical and mental healing.
In ancient times, colours were used for religious, cultural and medical purposes in Indian civilization. Colours are mentioned in the Vedas and epics, in which they had religious and spiritual significance. At that time colours were made from natural elements – like yellow from turmeric, red from beetroot, pink from flowers and green from neem leaves. These colours were used not only for beauty, but also for skin treatment. The yellow colour of turmeric provided protection to the skin, while the red colour made from beetroot helped purify the blood. Another advantage of these colours was that they were safe for the skin and were beneficial for the body.
The importance of colours increased further in the medieval period. During this time colours started being used with great pomp during festivals like Holi. The purpose of colours was not only beauty, but it became a symbol of social unity and brotherhood. On the day of Holi, people used to forget their old grievances and put colors on each other, which improved and renewed relationships. Even at that time, the colors were natural, because chemical colors had not been developed. There was also a mental and physical health aspect behind the colors of Holi. Every color had a special therapeutic and mental effect.
During the colonial period when the British ruled India, the influence of Western science and chemistry started increasing. During this time chemical colors were produced, which became popular in Indian society. Sulfur, upholstery, and heavy metals were used in these colors. Although these colors created attraction for some time, these colors started proving harmful to the skin.
In modern times, the production of chemical colors increased rapidly and these colors started being used extensively in festivals like Holi. These colors had strong and bright colors, which lasted for a long time. But as the negative effects of these colors on the body started to appear, people started trying to avoid them. Problems like irritation, rashes, eye irritation, and allergies started arising due to the use of chemical colors. Also, these colours started having a bad effect on the environment. These colours had now become a problem due to polluting water, air and soil.
When we talk about the colours of old times, it is important to remember that they were natural and made from plants. Yellow colour was made from turmeric, red colour from beetroot, and pink colour from flowers. These colours not only added beauty, but they were also beneficial for the body and skin. Turmeric has anti-inflammatory properties, which protect the skin from inflammation and other problems, while the red colour of beetroot purifies the blood. The colours of flowers give peace and happiness to the mind, which is also beneficial for mental health.
The colours sold in the market now are mainly chemical. They can have a bad effect on the skin, cause irritation in the eyes, and sometimes even cause problems like allergies. Chemical colours contain heavy metals, sulphur, and other harmful chemicals, which not only harm our body but also pollute the environment.
There has been a big change in the use of colours at present. Nowadays people are moving away from chemical colours and moving towards natural, herbal colours. Colours made from turmeric, beetroot, rose, saffron, neem and other plants have now become quite popular. The biggest advantage of these colours is that they are not only safe for the skin, but are also harmless to the environment. The main reason for this change is the negative effects of chemical colours on health and the environment.
The advantage of yellow colour made from turmeric is that it keeps the skin soft and smooth. Red colour made from beetroot improves blood flow, and rose colour contains antioxidants, which keep the skin fresh. Apart from this, these colours are also safe for the environment.
