Gentian violet, the most widely used colour concentrate in water colours, can cause skin discoloration, dermatitis, irritation of mucous membranes and lead to 'Keratoconjunctivitis' and dark purple staining of the cornea. Holi pastes contain toxic chemicals such as lead oxide, copper sulphate, etc. that can have severe health effects such as renal failure, eye allergies, contact dermatitis and skin cancer. On the other hand, organic colours are safe and can easily be made at home. For instance, haldi mixed with flour for dry yellow colour, boiled and soaked petals of pomegranate again for yellow colour, beetroot pieces soaked in water for magenta, petals of flowers of semul/tesu for saffron colour, lime mixed with haldi for a deep red colour and henna powder mixed with flour for mehndi colour.

Precautions & tips for a safe holi
* Don't throw colour at sensitive parts, such as eyes. But if a colour comes in contact with the eye, one should immediately wash it with a lot of water and in case irritation persists, medical aid should be sought immediately.
* Don't apply oil over the body before playing Holi, as it eases the penetration of colours into the body system.
* Use a hat or a cap to protect your hair from being coloured with hard-to-rinse dyes.
* Use dental caps to protect your teeth from staining.
* Use sunglasses to protect your eyes from harmful chemicals of colours.
* Wear full-sleeved T-shirts or shirts and leggings that cover your legs fully to protect your skin from harmful effects of colours.
* Try to save yourself from all possible attacks on the face.