Let’s prepare some colored powder for Holi, which is also called gulal. Gulal can be created with food coloring or natural ingredients such as turmeric. Today, we will concentrate on food dye shades while also sharing a few suggestions for natural coloring!
What is Holi?
Holi is a two-day Hindu celebration. Originally observed in Northern India, this spring festival is now enjoyed by Hindus around the globe. Also called the festival of colour, it marks the arrival of spring. Holi is especially famous for its colored powder runs, held on the second day, when people come together for an incredibly fun battle with colored water and powder! The festival represents winter’s conclusion and spring’s arrival. It is a season for family, friendship and forgiveness.
Holika Dahan takes place on the evening before the color run and represents the conclusion of winter. The occasion is marked by a bonfire, symbolising the burning of the demoness Holika and good triumphing over evil.
Typical Holi themes for kids include:
- Bright, vibrant colors – particularly colored powder and splat art-style activities
- Bonfires representing Holika Dahan and the close of winter
- Friendship, love and forgiveness
- Traditional Holi treats including gujiya (sweet dumplings), Dahi vada (yoghurt dumplins), Pakora (fried cheese fritters), Barfi (Indian sweets)
When is Holi?
Holi takes place at the end of winter, on the final full moon of the Hindu luni-solar calendar month. Since it welcomes spring, its date changes according to the lunar cycle. It generally occurs in March, although it can occasionally fall in late February on the Gregorian calendar. (Source: Wikipedia)
In 2025, Holika Dahanwill take place on the evening of 13th March, followed by the color celebration, or festival of colors, on 14th March!
Supplies needed to maek holi powder
For each Holi colour:
- 300 cornflour/corn starch
- 200ml water
- Food colouring (remember: higher-quality food coloring will give you better results! We prefer using sugarflair)
- Foil tray – foil trays make it simpler to remove your paint “cake” once it has dried. Remember to place the foil in your recycling bin afterward. Alternatively, line an ordinary bowl or dish with baking paper. Baking trays work well too, since they allow you to spread the color mixture more thinly and speed up drying!
- A bowl to combine the ingredients
NOTE: because this mixture forms the foundation of oobleck, creating rainbow-colored oobleck is another wonderful Holi activity for toddlers and preschoolers! It offers sensory play without the chaos of a color run!
How to make colored powder for Holi
Color HALF of the water
First, combine half of the water with your food coloring. Beginning with half the water is helpful because you may not require all of it, and you can slowly add plain water later if necessary.
Your finished colored powder will be more vibrant when you add extra food coloring. We also recommend choosing a high-quality food coloring for the best effect. Our favorite is the sugarflair brand.
TOP TIP: this activity provides a great chance to investigate color-mixing principles. Can you create green, purple and orange yourself?
Mixing your oobleck
Place the cornflour in a mixing bowl, then pour in the colored water and combine everything thoroughly. Add extra water only when needed – using less is preferable because the mixture must dry completely.
Note – the mixture will turn into oobleck, a substance that behaves as both a solid and a liquid. Stirring it may feel slightly tricky, but it is great fun!
Pour into your foil tray to set
Pour the bright oobleck into a foil tray, or into a dish covered with parchment paper. It must be left to dry all the way through, which can take up to 24 hours!
Break the paint cake back into powder
Once the colored cornflour has dried, gently break and crumble it until it returns to powder.
Natural Holi Colours
Below are a few ideas for creating natural coloured powder for Holi:
- Tumeric – yellow – stir the powder into your cornstarch before mixing in the water.
This is likely the simplest option to prepare at home. For additional colors, try beetroot juice, tea or kale, following the natural egg-dyeing method described here (you dye the water first rather than the eggs)!
Your beautiful coloured powder for the Holi colour run is ready – be sure to use it OUTDOORS. It is wonderfully entertaining, but it can also create quite a mess!!
Wishing you happy Holi celebrations!
