Celebrating Holi: Don't Let Your Home, Surroundings Lose Their True Colour

As we wait for Holi, the Indian festival of colours and sumptuous sweets, our thoughts are full of energy, enthusiasm and the obvious playfulness the spirit of the occasion demands. Also occupying our mind is the thought is the safety measure we need to put in place to ensure the Holi remains safe; that no harm is done to us through use of artificial colours, etc. It may not have, however, stuck to us that our homes are equally vulnerable to all things artificial. If due care is not taken during in playing Holi, the health and wealth of our homes would be greatly impacted. On that account, let us go green this Holi, and by going green we do not only mean playing the festival with organic colours.

Do not let it burn

The night before Holi is “played”, Holika Dahan (the burning of the symbolic pyre that signifies good defeating evil) is organised. You would find the ritual taking place in practically every street of your city—the same happens during the festival of Lohri. This mass burning of wood is deadly for the environment we live in – the Delhi government this winter made it mandatory for housing societies in the national capital to provide electric heaters to watchmen in order to prevent burning of wood when the smog lingering over the city skies refused to disperse for over a week. It would be rich on your part to blame authorities later for the rising levels of pollution while you show the largesse in burning of wood now. Keeping the spirit of the festival, community bonfire that involves minimal amount of wood burning could be organised.

By the by, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation has issued a warning against tree felling on the occasion. Under the provisions of the Maharashtra Protection and Preservation of Trees Act, 1975, those found guilty of cutting trees and branches without an authorised permission can be sentenced to a jail term of up to a year. A fine of Rs 1,000 to Rs 5,000 can also be imposed for the offence.

Do not let it flow

Gallons of water are wasted to wash off the many colours that adorn your happy demeanour. Since water bills are not necessarily something on top of a reveler’s mind, due care is never taken to save this natural resource which many predict could be the cause of the world war-III— they job we presume is better left for authorities. In case you live in a housing society where all the residents share similar views, you could only imagine the scale of water wastage. If everyone in this housing society is of the view that they needed to save water, and organised a Holi celebration that involves no use of water—go for gulaal, you could just wipe it off—you would be doing your bit to save not only for the society or the housing society, you would also be doing yourself a favour.

Do not play that deafening music

In the good-old days, people would get together days before Holi arrived to sing Phagwa, a form of folk music dedicated especially to the festival. That music used to be nectar to the ears--- no loudspeakers were involved. We live in completely different times now.

In big cities of today, there are large music systems that are installed in almost every household, much to the harm of the atmosphere and the discomfiture of the neighbours—there might be elderly people in the neighbourhood who would find the music no fun to their nervous. But, do not be misled and this this noise pollution is only making your neighbours angry. Even if you are enjoying it currently, it would have a long-term impact that would hit you adversely. Your home must be a territory where unnecessary use of loudspeaker must not be allowed.

Do not endanger the road

Over the years, consumption of liquor and bhang has become part of the Holi celebration. Also customary is visiting your family and friends in the evening to greet them on Holi. Little wonder then that a large number of road mishaps are reported after the event. Don’t drink are drive is not just a preachy line that authorities must flash on traffic signals. You should be responsible enough to keep the roads safe.

Do not allow property destruction

If you are hosting a party, make sure your home is not subjected to a rampage. While the dust and stains and the litter could be easily dealt with, it would be quite disappointing for you if, say, your prized crockery is broken. Equally disturbing would be the fact if members of your party engaged in causing harm to your neighbour’s property or belongings in any manner. Do instruct your part party not to have destruction-filled fun.