Onset of spring brings the festival of colours for all …..Yes it’s ……HOLI !

People celebrate Holi with great enthusiasm and happiness . During spring you can see a lot of colourful flowers around you and in Holi also people plant with colours . Holi is a festival of eating delicacies and drinking thandai . At some places people play Holi with fresh flowers and at someplances they play with colours , Gulal.  Children also enjoy this festival with Pichkari (watergun ) and water balloons .

In this blog we will be discussing  how you can protect your skin and hair and  what are the preparations you can do to manage your health during this festival.

Pre Holi Practices 

Make  sure to apply Coconut oil or Almond oil all over your body , so that later on you can easily remove the colour . In Ayurveda applying oil over the body is called Abhyangam .

Oiling not only protects your body but it also nourishes your skin and takes care of  the dryness .

Colours have a significance in maintaining our health . It is also linked with the 7 chakras to influence body energy . Colours are linked with five basic elements ( Panch mahabhutas )  of this universe. 

Earth is linked with yellow colour , Water is linked with deep blue colour , Space is linked with light blue colour , Air is linked with Green colour , Fire is linked with red colour .

It is always advisable to use Holi colours made up of plant based ingredients like Henna leaves , Hibiscus flowers , Sandalwood , Kesar, Turmeric , Marigold flowers , Rose petals and many more . In Ayurveda there is a concept of ubatan in which a paste of chandan , Haldi and rose water is applied on the body . Similarly there are many other herbs which are used as ubatan . Ubatan helps to remove dead cells and nourishes the skin, it also improves the complexion of skin. 

Colours have an impact not only on our body but also in our mind and its aroma energises us . Red colour activates breathing and heart rate , Yellow colour makes you happy , Blue colour has a calming effect on your senses , so you can enjoy Holi with Natural and plant based colours .

The best part of Holi is refreshing drinks like Thandai and Kaanji , which  one can have . Thandai contains a lot of Antioxidants and it contains milk , almonds , fennel seeds, rose petals and saffron .  Kaanji is a fermented drink which is rich in nutrients and fibre.

Here are some easy recipes that you can enjoy with your friends and family .

Thandai – Holi Special 

  • 10-12 whole almonds
  • 10-12 whole cashew nuts
  • 25-30 whole black peppercorns
  • 10-12 raisins
  • 10-12 whole green cardamoms
  • 1 teaspoon white poppy seeds (optional)
  • 1 teaspoon fennel seeds
  • 1 teaspoon melon seeds
  • 1 pinch of saffron strand
  • Milk – 250 ml 
  • Sugar – 1/4th Cup 
  • Rose water – 1 tsp 
  • Chopped nuts and rose petals for garnishing 

Ingredients

Method:

  • Add all dry ingredients in a bowl
  • Add 1 cup water to all the ingredients and soak it overnight 
  • Blend all the soaked ingredients in a blender and make a paste 
  • Heat milk in a thick bottom pan and keep stirring it 
  • Add paste , sugar and rose water , keep stirring the milk
  • Cook for 4-5 minutes  
  • Remove from the heat and cool down at room temperature 
  • Put it in the fridge for cooling 
  • Before serving, strain it and remove all the leftover pulp .
  • Serve Thandai in a glasses and garnish with chopped nuts and rose petals

So what are you waiting for , Get ready to enjoy HOLI ….!