As a kid, I loved Holi. It was a reason why family and friends got together to share meals, threw colored powder and water balloons at each other, had silly fun, and spent all day in the sun.
The ritual of Holika Dahan was performed on the eve of Holi each year. Large bonfires were lit, and prayers were offered to God. Mom applied ubtan to our faces and arms and then threw the exfoliated dead cells into the Dahan. The symbolism was that you burned all ill luck and diseases that you had carried with you until Holi.
My mother was an exceptional cook. She made an array of traditional delicacies like dahi vadas, mutton curry, aloo gobhi, kadhi-chawal, puris, etc., but my favorite was the dessert: malpua. We would wear new clothes in the evening and touch the feet of the elderly, and they would give us cash as their blessings. I was always a saver, and Holi was such a perfect day for my tiny bank account to grow.
That said, as I started to get older, I saw how a beautiful festival like Holi … that represented spring renewal, the love between Radha and Krishna, a time to come together in community, a time to embrace the positive and let go of negative energy … had a dark side.
Some men touched women without their permission and said, “Bura na mano Holi hai.” People became aggressively innovative with the colors—I remember one guy melted batteries and used that to apply to people’s faces. You couldn’t wash it off easily the same day. The synthetic colors and the chemicals in them would hurt people’s skin and their eyes. There was powdered glass in abeer or the dry face color, and people lost their eyesight when you threw the color in their face and they scrubbed their eyes. Crimes including sexual harassment, robbery, and drug consumption started to increase during the festival along with lifestyle-induced diseases.
Holi is a vibrant and joyous festival, but if you aren’t careful, it can damage your skin, hair, safety, emotional well-being, and overall health. Ayurveda offers simple yet effective ways to enjoy Holi while maintaining balance in your body and mind.
Here are some Ayurvedic tips for a healthy and safe Holi:
Pre-Holi Care
- Oil Your Skin & Hair
- Apply coconut, sesame oil, or almond oil to your skin to create a protective barrier against harsh colors.
- Massage your scalp and hair with warm oil to prevent dryness and damage.
- Abhyanga protects your hair and skin and prevents the colors from penetrating deep inside.
- Hydrate Your Body
- Drink plenty of warm water and herbal teas (like fennel or CCF Tea or ginger tea) to stay hydrated and flush out toxins.
- Cold beverages can extinguish your agni. A weak agni creates room for ama or toxins and eventually illness.
- Boost Immunity
- Consume immune-boosting foods like turmeric milk (golden milk), ginger tea, and fresh seasonal fruits.
- Take a teaspoon of Chyawanprash in the morning for overall immunity.
- Practice Breathwork
- Holi can be a noisy holiday that does an assault on the nervous system.
- Breathwork can help regulate the nervous system by activating the parasympathetic nervous system, which promotes relaxation.
- It can help you manage arousal and reactivity.
During Holi
5. Use Herbal & Natural Colors
In the old days, “Holi ka rang,” as in colorful powders, were prepared from Ayurvedic herbs like neem,kumkum, sandalwood, turmeric, marigold, bilva, henna, Jacaranda flowers, chrysanthemums, and many others.
These were also considered dosha-balancing. While a Pitta individual might appreciate the benefits of cooling blue, a kapha prakruti person could use the fire of red color.
At least opt for herbal or homemade colors made from flowers, turmeric, beetroot, and other natural ingredients to avoid skin and eye irritation.
6. Protect Your Eyes & Lips
Apply rose water to your eyes before stepping out and wear sunglasses to prevent color from entering your eyes.
Use ghee or a natural lip balm on your lips to prevent dryness.
7. Stay Cool & Balanced
Drink cooling drinks (not cold) like coconut water, aam panna (raw mango drink), or rose sherbet to prevent overheating as well as Pitta aggravation.
If you don’t like to play with colors, you don’t have to attend large gatherings.
Say an assertive NO if someone tries to apply colors on you without your permission.
8. Avoid Heavy & Fried Foods
Enjoy traditional Holi meals and mithais but in moderation.
Show up to Holi with an abundance mindset where you don’t feel the need to binge.
Don’t eat because you don’t want to upset the host— prioritize your health.
Mindless and uncontrolled indulgences are a guaranteed recipe for poor health.
Post-Holi Detox & Recovery
9. Cleanse Gently
Use gram flour (besan) mixed with milk or yoghurt or rose water as a gentle cleanser instead of harsh soaps.
Apply aloe vera or sandalwood paste to soothe any skin irritation.
10. Detox with Ayurvedic Herbs
Use a few drops of Anu Tailam in the nostrils to cleanse the nasal passage from color residues and pollutants.
Drink warm water in the morning to flush out toxins.
Take Triphala at night to support digestion and detoxification.
By following these ancient Ayurvedic tips, you can enjoy a joyful and vibrant Holi while keeping your health in balance.
“Mindfulness is a way of befriending ourselves and our experience.” ~ Jon Kabat-Zinn