DIY Homemade Organic Holi Color (Using Veggies & Food Color)

Holi is not only the festival of colors, in fact it is a vibrant celebration of love, unity, and diversity.

It marks the arrival of spring and is celebrated with great enthusiasm and joy across not only in India but also around other parts of the world.

One of the key elements of Holi is the use of colorful powders and water to playfully smear on each other.

While many may opt for store-bought colors, being a DIY enthusiast I couldn’t resist making homemade organic colors for this auspicious occasion of Holi festival.

The idea behind this DIY project is to celebrate the festival of colors considering the safety in mind.

Homemade DIY powder colors are not only safer and eco-friendly but also add a personal touch to this festive tradition.

In this article, I will share some easy and fun ways to make your own homemade organic colors for a memorable Holi celebration.

Let’s take a quick look at the list of things I’ve used to make the organic color.

Step 1: Things I’ve Used To Make DIY Organic Holi Color

Here’s the bifurcation and the list of things I’ve used to make the DIY Organic Holi color powders.

Organic Holi Colors:

• Beetroot: For a natural reddish color shade I’ve used a beetroot.
• Turmeric: To obtain an organic yellow Holi color shade I’ve used turmeric powder.
• Non-Toxic Green Food Color: I’ve used non-toxic food color for the green shade as I had it available in my household.

Other Ingredients:

• Cornstarch/Corn flour: I’ve used cornstarch as the base color powder, however, corn flour can also be used as the base color powder. Alternatively, you can also use all-purpose flour (It’s called Maida in Indian Terms)
• Rose Water: I’ve used rose water as an alternative to regular water. It will help dampen the solution and also add fragrance to the powder colors for the Holi festival. It’s ok to use water if you don’t have rose water. You can also use kewra water instead of rose water to add fragrance.
• Baby Talcum Powder: Usually most people mix regular talcum powders to make DIY Holi colors, I’ve used Baby talcum powder as a better option for all skin types.
• Knife, vegetable Peeler, and Grater: To cut the beetroot you can use your regular knife, a vegetable peeler to peel the beetroot, and a grater that can finely grate the beetroot.
• Bowls and Spoons: Bowls will be used to mix the ingredients for different colors and spoons to add and mix them.

Step 2: Peeling and Grating the Beetroot (Reddish Purple Shade)

I have used beetroot, cornstarch, baby talc, and rose water for Purple and Reddish Shade.

Next it’s time to prepare the purple Shade from the juice of the beetroot.

To begin with, I first peeled the skin of the beetroot using a vegetable peeler. Just nake sure it’s peeled properly before grating it.

Then, I used a vegetable grater and finely grated the beetroot in a bowl.

Step 3: Adding Cornstarch, Talcum Powder, and Color

I took a small bowl and added three spoons of cornstarch.

Then, I added some baby talcum powder to the bowl and mixed it well.

Post which, I squeezed the grated beetroot in my palms to let its juicy liquid into the bowl.

I squeezed it thoroughly and it was sufficient as per required quantity.

Step 4: Mixing the Ingredients

In this step, I mixed the solution well using a spoon.

As soon as it became difficult to move it around I used my hand.

Next, I mixed the solution with my fingers and kept mixing it until the small lumps turned into powder.

It took about 3 minutes to mix it well post that I placed it aside for sometime.

Step 5: Turmeric Powder for Yellow Shade

To make yellow organic color for the Holi festival I used turmeric powder.

I started off by adding a few spoons of cornstarch to a bowl followed by baby talcum powder.

Then, I added the turmeric powder to the solution and mixed it with the solution using a spoon followed by adding a small amount of rose water into the solution.

Step 6: Preparing the Yellow Color Powder

To ensure the turmeric powder mixed well with the other ingredients, I combined a small amount with rose water in a separate bowl.

Afterward, I added it to the solution and thoroughly mixed them.

It took about another 3 minutes of rolling my fingers and breaking up small lumps to achieve the desired consistency.

Finally, I had the yellow shade ready and placed it aside next to the bowl containing the purple shade.

Step 7: Non-Toxic Food Color (Green Shade)

I had green food color available at home, so I opted to use it to create the shade for the Holi Powder.

Alternatively, my usual method involves soaking a bunch of spinach leaves in medium-hot water and grinding them to extract the green color.

However, since the food coloring I used is non-toxic and eco-friendly, the method didn’t matter much.

Following similar steps as before, I began by adding cornstarch, baby talcum powder, and a small amount of food coloring, along with a few drops of rose water, into a bowl.

I mixed them thoroughly, breaking up any lumps to ensure a powdery consistency.

While you can let the mixture air dry further, I’ll share some alternative methods in the next step to expedite the process.

Step 8: Alternate Drying Options

To quicken the drying process you can use the following options:

• Spread the mixture on a large plate and let it air dry.
• Dry them under direct sunlight.
• Heat them in your Microwave Oven for a minute.

Note: Do not overcook them into the Microwave Ovens.

Finally, your efforts will result into an organic and eco-friendly color powders for the Holi festival.

Video Walkthrough of DIY Homemade Organic Holi Color

Final Thoughts 

I would say that making DIY homemade organic Holi color powder is a fun, safe and inexpensive way to celebrate the joyful occasion of colors.

It provides a safer alternative to store-bought powders which may contain harmful chemicals.

Additionally, you can customize the colors with several alternatives and have peace of mind knowing exactly what goes into it.

This Holi, simply gather your closed ones and get creative with your color combinations to enjoy a vibrant and environmentally-friendly Holi celebration this year with DIY homemade color powder.

To make the organic color making process easier I’ve uploaded a video on our YouTube channel, subscribe to stay updated on DIY & Decor and trending craft ideas.

Wish you a Happy and safe Holi!

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