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Holi represents love, new beginnings, the onset of spring and the triumph of good over evil. This year, it also marks a pivot towards eco-conscious celebrations, thanks to Gen Z in India.
One of the most iconic and culturally immersive festivals, aptly called the 'festival of colours' in the West and in communities around the globe with irrepressible gusto. In India, schools shut, offices close and people flood the streets, playfully dousing each other in colour.
love, new beginnings, the onset of spring and, according to Hindu mythology, the good over evil. It typically spans two days and begins with Choti Holi or Holika Dahan on day one, when locals ignite a bonfire to dispel negativity, cleanse past sins and burn the legendary demoness Holika – and in colder regions to keep warm. The downside for the environment, however, are the numerous trees that are chopped down across India to fuel those ceremonial bonfires.
Day two of Holi is the main powder-throwing event, transforming the whole country into a vibrant spectacle. It can, however, get messy as people gather in large crowds drenching each other with scented powder, water pistols and water balloons. In addition to copious water waste, this day of Holi exposes communities to powders that often have of toxic chemicals, synthetic dyes and inferior-quality oil paints including heavy metals, acids, powdered glass and mica dust.
Solutions for a greener Holi Gen Z, who are becoming known for their more as well as that don't work for them, are weaving modern, innovative and eco-conscious elements into the Holi traditions. reported that Gen Z has the highest level of concern around the planet's wellbeing, influencing others to prioritise green living in their purchasing choices. This is a shift that began a few years back, with millennials
But "a sustainable Holi isn't just about using organic colours", said 26-year-old sustainability blogger who goes by the name Samridhi, from Mumbai. "It's more than that – it's carpooling or taking public transport to travel around, buying local, promoting small businesses, cooking at home and opting for plastic-free goodies and gifts."
Natural and herbal colours are typically made from floral extracts, vegetable dyes and kitchen ingredients. For instance, turmeric powder for yellow, Palash petals for orange and pomegranate peel or hibiscus flowers for red. But Gen Z has a take on this millennial-led trend: "I believe in a zero-waste approach, which means not a single flower or leaf should be plucked. Instead, I collect flowers that are already donated to temples and use fruit and food scraps left from preparing snacks for our Holi parties," shared 19-year-old Priyanka Shinde from Pune.
"I stumbled upon an Instagram reel that showed how using is more planet-friendly compared to traditional wooden logs," said 20-year-old Vedang Gupta from New Delhi, a city that ranks ,He explained that in addition to saving trees, burning cow dung instead also helps local cow shelters. "I found this super cool and have been [burning cow dung instead of wood] ever since," Gupta added.
Beyond green shopping
On social media, Gen Z creators are posting content that aligns with their planet-focused values, giving the Holi festival an eco-friendly makeover. "This year I'll be sharing mirror selfies with styling tips on how to upcycle old discarded clothes into fun Holi outfits instead of buying new ones," said 22-year-old Sarah Mukherjee from Kolkata.
However, for Generation Z a true planet-friendly lifestyle goes beyond sustainable shopping, encompassing a greater philosophy of kindness and respect.
"I like to make sure that people are okay with and give their consent to applying colour on them, and I expect the same in return. You can no longer get away with things like 'bura na maano, holi hai' [a common phrase used to cajole people to not take offense if someone plays a prank or forcefully throws colour on them as a part of the festivities] like the previous generations did," explained 24-year-old Aditi Srivastava from Mumbai. Previous years'
"It's heartbreaking to catch them hiding under cars, trying to evade hooligans throwing paints on them," said 23-year-old Sara Sing from New Delhi. Singh is a member of a local cat club that does volunteer work to rescue and foster cats as well as raise funds for their medical care. "We use festivals like Holi and Diwali to spread awareness against animal cruelty by sticking posters across our neighbourhood,” Singh added of her group.
As a pet owner herself, Singh prefers to whip up dog-friendly gujiyas (a popular empanada-like stuffed dessert made on Holi) and enjoy a quiet holiday at home. "My building security guards usually inform me if a stray animal is being forced to play Holi. I immediately run down with pet shampoos as I already have them handy. If they're not washed in time, it can lead to allergies and hair loss," she said.
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