Holi is a religious festival marking the beginning of spring in India. During the festival, children buy small packets of brightly colored powder from street vendors. The powders are either mixed with water, or used directly, to be thrown at anyone and everyone! Noone walking in the street remains uncolored. Here are a few pics I took in Varanasi in March 2004 of a street vendor as well as a storefront providing supplies of the colored powders. Enjoy!
Hi Doug, I have pondered this same question many times. Radioactive waste keeps coming to mind! Seriously, though, an internet search suggests that toxic heavy metals have been widely used - there is growing awareness of this issue and beginning attempts to use safer alternatives in the dyes.
cheers, Steve
Shiva dancing wrote:
Hi Doug, I have pondered this same question many times. Radioactive waste keeps coming to mind! Seriously, though, an internet search suggests that toxic heavy metals have been widely used - there is growing awareness of this issue and beginning attempts to use safer alternatives in the dyes.
cheers, Steve
Some many years ago, I worked for a chemical company that specialized in reselling dyes. I can attest to the fact that there is some really nasty stuff in those dyes, some of which is heavy metals. Nasty nasty stuff indeed.
