The festival of colours will be different this year for tribal women of Bhandara and Gondia as the naturally prepared colours by them will be sold at various malls and department stores throughout the state. This will be a result of the joint initiative of state Social Forestry directorate and, Tribal Research and Training Institute (TRTI).

“There has been a big demand for natural eco-friendly colours in the market and are being sold at high prices. Thus, it was decided to promote the eco-friendly colours prepared by the tribal woman self help groups (SHG),” Prakash Thosre, Director, Social Forestry, said.

The department tied up with the TRTI for training the tribal women in Bhandara and Gondia district for preparing good quality eco-friendly colours for Holi, he said adding the product will be marketed by the social forestry department.

Around 390 tribal women from 41 villages manufactured 20,000 packets, each of 100 grams, of colours. They come in four colours — black, yellow, red and green — and will cost Rs 35 per packet.

The priority will be to sell the colours through the network of government-promoted National Harit Sena in the select government schools in every district on March 7 and later on in Malls in the cities.