The festival of Holi will be celebrated in Goa today where the colours of spring are in the air. The Hindu festival is celebrated by throwing colored water and powders on one another in joyous revelry. Gaining popularity over the years in the State, the festival has progressed from using artificial and chemical laced colours to organic colours to protect the skin against harmful agents. Interesting, it is the colleges taking this initiative.
Mastering organic
colour production
Students of Vidya Prabodhini College of Commerce, Education, Computer and Management, Porvorim have successfully mastered organic colour production and marketing. Led by assistant professor Rudresh Uttam Mhamal, this hands-on learning experience has equipped commerce students with essential skills in branding, production, and distribution while aligning with key Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The project received strong support from the college’s Principal, Dr Bhushan Bhave and Dr Ujvala Hanjunkar, vice principal and head of the Commerce Department.
Environmentalist Suryakant Gaonkar conducted a workshop for the students on organic colour production. The students collaborated with Suryakant and Dhavrukh NGO engaged in designing labels, creating promotional materials, and utilizing digital marketing tools to boost product visibility. The students successfully sold over 200 kg of organic colour.
Rohit Gaounder, a SYBCom student, shared that the project exposed him to practical challenges in pricing and sales, while Falgun Priyolkar highlighted the importance of discounting strategies and consumer engagement.
Three years of
eco-friendly colours
With the strong collaboration with the Parents Teachers Association (PTA), the Alumni Association, Goa State Biodiversity Board's GoVan project and Goa State Pollution Control Board, Lions Club of Mapusa, Dnyanprassarak Mandal's College and Research Centre (DMC) in Assagao promotes natural organic and non-toxic holi colors made from flowers, seeds and herbs.
This initiative began as a pilot project in 2021, producing just a few kilograms of Natural organic color, and has since expanded to produce nearly three tons of color. College Principal Prof D B Arolkar highlighted the dangers of commercially available toxic colors with heavy metals like mercury, copper, and cadmium, as well as harmful adulterants that can cause long-term health issues and environmental damage.
The college’s eco-friendly colors are made from natural materials like turmeric, bixa seeds, beetroot and indigo leaves. The initiative has been certified by the Pollution Control Board. The Natural Holi Colours were officially launched marking a significant step towards a more sustainable and community-driven celebration of the festival.