Aditi Panda
Water scarcity is a massive issue today with every state staggering under its effect. Gradual increase in populace, history of poor water management, lack of appropriate water conservation, nonchalant approach of government at all levels and most significantly the disrespect for water by the common man is to blame for this state of affairs. It is speculated that the population will cross 1.7 billion by the next 30 years which is colossal.
India has been constantly facing a water crisis that is worsening after every monsoon and people are not at all disturbed. At present no city in the country can give clean drinking water supply and people actually have to buy water. Virtually each one haphazardly puts the onus on the government and takes for granted that their duty is done and it’s the government’s problem to find a suitable solution.
With HOLI around the corner it’s necessary to ring the bell to SAVE WATER. On one hand we talk about water scarcity and on the other hand irrevocable gallons of precious water is wasted only on HOLI throughout the country on the name of celebrations and for some fleeting happiness.
Undoubtedly Holi comes once a year and one and all is earnestly waiting, but can it not be celebrated in an eco-friendly way? Usually people throw water balloons at each other or throw people in water tanks. Water is wasted while playing Holi and after playing Holi to wash the grease and other chemical colours from the body, clothes and houses.
Radhika Mahapatra, an IT professional shares enthusiastically, “There are so many options and brands of eco-friendly and dry colour available in the market. The colour gets washed away with one wash and it leaves no aftermath on the sensitive skin. We all friends normally enjoy this festival with the kids staying in the orphanage with safe colours and lots of snacks. The happiness on their faces is indispensible.”
In reality when the festival of Holi was celebrated in earlier times the colour used was completely natural and organic which had no side effects and made with herbs and vegetables. But today to make the colours more long lasting, toxic material like chemicals, petrol, silica, lead, sometimes that may leave a permanent mark on the skin are used. Repetitive cleaning is required to remove the colour from the body as well as the clothes thus wasting lot of water.
“Use a thick moisturiser or a sunscreen lotion on the open parts of your body before you play Holi. Protect your eyes with glares if possible. Wear a cap or apply lots of hair oil to protect your hair. Use nail polish on your nails and a good jelly or lip balm to protect your lips. Cover your body as much as possible and try to wear dark clothes, or better still discard the clothes instead of wasting water to wash them several times”, says Priyanka Sahu.
Hence this HOLI no water in pichkaris, no throwing water balloons, no rain dancing and no harsh colours but a dry and waterless Holi. Holi will be the same and so will its festivities but after holi we all will have satisfaction that we have helped in a small way to SAVE WATER this time.
A happy WATERLESS HOLI to all.
Wish top celebrities endorse waterless Holi drive on social media…this can have an impact on the revellers…no license shud be issued to the vendors selling pichkaris,balloons n chemical colours…
With the above measures,waterless Holi,which is a thought,an initiative can become a reality.
Yes and a small contribution to save water .
Holi in India is associated with colors but nowadays it also means revelry with water. It has been observed all over the nation, especially in cities, that people mix colors and water during holi festival. Water balloons, pichkaris and guns are a major hit with kids. Even bollywood has glorified this tradition irrespective of environmental issues. Most revelers cannot imagine a holi without water. It’s like a dry holi. Hence despite the looming danger of severe water scarcity most Indians will still prefer a wet holi. It’s like Kal ho na ho. Enjoy today… Who has seen tomorrow syndrome. So how can we make our ignorant citizens to act more responsibly? Well we can’t. An embargo needs to be put in place. The respective state governments should ban usage of water during holi and maybe, just maybe, it would serve as a deterrent to those who waste water. Wasting water in India should be a criminal offense punishable by law.
Yeah.its a brutal truth.every state has water scarcity but even then people waste water before holi playing holi and after holi to wipe the colour from the body nd clothes and houses