Nobody is Attacking Holi (But Maybe We Can Do it Better?)

[View this email in your browser]( Much Colour. Such Fun. Be Better It is not easy to be better sometimes. Most people want to be better. Especially when it comes to changing long-held beliefs that have cultural and religious ties - the debates are often much more time consuming than the actual change. Take Holi. The festival has deep religious significance for pious Hindus. It is an iconic symbol of India, defining this nation's colourful heart. And even for those who do not hold the same beliefs, the festival has become a cultural standard across the centuries. But many Indians have a completely different Holi experience - one filled with dangerous chemicals or sexual abuse. The sexual abuse is not up for debate. No person should be violated in any sense. And no custom, 'joke' or 'accident' can be tolerated if it leads to sexual abuse or any other kind of violation. However when it comes to almost every other aspect - things are not so white and Gulaal. For example, is there a need to flood our bodies and every inch of space we can see in industrial strength dye? The dye not only damages your skin but seeps into the ground - ready to hurt the soil and groundwater for years to come. The same logic goes for all kinds of artificial colours or plastic water balloons. No one can seriously argue that these things are part of any ancient traditions. Look at it this way, if you damage the environment so much that there will be no more water, how will you play Holi? If you dirty your homes and streets so much that living becomes impossible, how will you play Holi? And if playing Holi all your life with chemicals tragically damaged your skin, or caused cancer, why will the next generation play Holi? For all these reasons and many more - I hope you take a little time out of your day, and as Holi approaches in ten days, [consider making or buying natural colours]( setting up fixed spots to celebrate and arranging a pleasant atmosphere for one and all. This would not only make it safe for everyone but is more traditional, since quite literally, this is exactly how our ancestors did it. So why can't we do it as well? PS: And no, there is no debate. Sexual abuse cannot be tolerated. It is not 'fun'. - Vinayak Hegde [Read Here]( Product Of The Day Petalists Skin-Friendly Holi Colour Combo Pack Celebrate safely this year! These eco-friendly colours are made with dried, discarded flowers petals collected from temples and wedding halls. [They do not contain any chemicals, making them safe for your skin.]( Also, persons with intellectual disability have created these colours and by purchasing this product, so you are supporting their economic empowerment! [Buy Now]( Recommended Reads Rs 40 Lakh, 114 Looms & More: How 4 Designers Helped Kerala Weavers Post Floods [Read More]( Exclusive: How a Cart-Puller’s Iron-Willed Daughter Became India’s Beloved Hockey Captain [Read More]( Mermaids in Saris: Ahmedabad Man Creates Magic From Single Sheets of Paper! [Read More]( Exclusive: How a Cart-Puller’s Iron-Willed Daughter Became India’s Beloved Hockey Captain [Read More]( Video of The Day Sawai Ram Singh II of Jaipur was ahead of his time. His extensive photography skill earned him the reputation of being the ‘photographer prince’ of India #MustWatch #Jaipur #ThingsToKnow Copyright © 2019 The Better India, All rights reserved. Want to change how you receive these emails? You can [update your preferences]( or [unsubscribe from this list](.