SUBRAM

E Newsletter from Sukuki Exnora 7-1-29/B/4, Leelanagar Begumpet, Hyderabad-500016, INDIA M a r c h , 2014 Volume 2, Issue 3

1. From the Founder's Desk

Wishing all the readers of SUBRAM a Happy Holi with natural colours. Let us have concern for environment uppermost on our minds and discover the true way of celebrating festivals. We shall not celebrate festivals at the cost of our environment and life. This issue has an article which gives an insight of how the changing scenario of the festival of colours, Eco quiz World.Green initiative,Hermal treature& Terms to ponder Enjoy reading

2. Express Yourself
The changing scenario of the festival of colours- HOLI -Padma Nandyal
Nature always fascinates us through its colours. Holi festival signifies the victory of good over evil, the arrival of spring, end of winter, and for many a festive day to meet others, play and laugh, forget and forgive, and repair ruptured relationships .It is seen in the form of the message of unity and brotherhood. As per the custom and tradition, people pay visits to their friends and relatives, to give them wishes as well as to strengthen their bonds. The festival brings the nation together, as it is not just celebrated by Hindus but, also by the Sikhs, Christians, Jains as well. The festival is unique, as it does not discriminate against any section of the society and treats everyone equally. In 17th century literature, it was identified as a festival that celebrated agriculture, commemorated good spring harvests and the fertile land. Holi considerably affects the biological sy stem of our body. The time, at which Holi is celebrated, is very crucial with respect to our body. During the festival, the season is going through a change - from winter to summer. It is the period when people feel lethargic and drowsy. Holi provides them the opportunity to wear off their laziness, by enjoying themselves thoroughly. The dance performances and the music played during the festival rejuvenate the mind and soul. The color, especially Abeer, penetrates the body and strengthens the ions, improving health and beauty. When people play with the bonfire ,it kills the bacteria in the body and makes it clean. During Holi, people clean their houses and remove clutter, thereby ensuring flow of positive energy. Therefore, it can be said that apart from rejuvenating the social ties, Holi provides a wonderful opportunity to let loose all the tension and destress the mind. Traditional Holi made use of natural coloured powders having medicinal significance: the colours were traditionally made of Neem, Kumkum, Haldi, Bilva, etc. The coloured powders used for playing were made from natural coloured extracts of flowers, roots and herbs that are good for skin. Slowly we see the changing scenario of this festival. With the advent of synthetic dyes, the natural dyes have disappeared and fully replaced by synthetic dyes. In fact most of these synthetic dyes were meant for industrial use like dyeing textiles and not to be applied on humans. When washed they enter water bodies and soil and even more pollution.

synthetic colours along with the arrangement of bhaang (a modern day concept and beverage), fast music, fast food and influence of other cultures from around the world. Since, everyone loves the festival; the festival has now become a hot favorite among many communities who have popularized the festival according to their own customs and traditions The three forms of synthetic colours produced: pastes, dry colours and water colours are prepared from harmful substances like acids, mica, glass powder and alkalis, and are quite capable of causing serious skin complications and allergies. Often referred to as unholy colors of Holi, artificial colors can lead to skin allergies, irritation, redness, rashes, itching and bumps The artificial colours that are used are highly structured polymers and are next to impossible to decompose biologically. The festival of Holi is proving to be an environmental risk due to the toxic used during the celebrations. Unlimited and u ncontrolled use of such dyes can lead to grave consequences in terms of human health and ecological balance. We should get back the old festival fervor by giving awareness of dangers of using synthetic holi colours and replacing natural colours with synthetic colours in the market. By using these safe,natural colours we are not only saving our skins but are also helping to save our environment to conserve our bioderversity. When these colours are mixed with the soil and water they will not add toxicity to them, therefore it will not harm the myriad life forms that live in the soil and water. By this we can bring back in large quantities the diverse plants and trees that give us these colours.These are not only less expensive but also be made easily at home. One can explore the plant sources for filling the gaps in the spectrum and can produce full range of coloured gulals for holi.

3.ECO QUIZ WORLD Eco Quiz world would create interest in environmental field and stretches our mind to new horizon of thought and learning. Try to solve or look for answers in March 2014 Newsletter.

1.When lakes become acidic from acid rain, this is added to counteract the acidity. What is it?
a. soil b. sand c. lime 2.What are the main sources of water pollution which has an adverse affect on both the environment and heath? a. Municipal sewage b. Industrial discharge c. Both a and b 3. Which sector is the single largest consumer of fresh water in India? a. Power. b. Domestic c. Agriculture 4.Materials of biological origin which are commonly used to maintain and improve soil fertility are a. Green manure b. Bio fertilizers c. Both a and b 5 . What is watershed?

a. A place to store water. b. An area of land that drains into a particular lake or river. c. None of the above

Answers to the Eco Quiz World published in Feb 2014 issue: 1-a, 2-b, 3-c, 4-b, 5-c

4. Our Herbal Treasure

TURMERIC- curcuma longa is a very common herb. Often referred to as the Queen of Spices, its main characteristics are a pepper-like aroma, sharp taste and golden color. People across the globe use this herb in their cooking.Turmeric contains a wide range of antioxidant, antiviral, antibacterial, antifungal, anticarcinogenic, antimutagenic and anti-inflammatory properties. It is also loaded with many healthy nutrients such as protein, dietary fiber, niacin, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Vitamin K, sodium, potassium, calcium, copper, iron, magnesium and zinc

5.Green Initiative Children of Amrit apartments used natural colours and played Holi with full of joy. The natural colours are made by Sukuki Exnora.

6.TERMS TO PONDER Vermicomposting is the process of using worms and micro-organisms to turn kitchen waste into a black, earthy-smelling, nutrient-rich humus. Rainwater harvesting is a technique used for collecting, storing, and using rainwater for landscape irrigation and other uses. Carpooling is the sharing of car journeys so that more than one person travels in a car. By having more people using one vehicle, carpooling reduces each person's travel costs such as fuel costs, tolls, and the stress of driving. Carpooling is seen as a more environmentally friendly and sustainable way to travel as sharing journeys reduces carbon emissions, traffic congestion on the roads, and the need for parking spaces

If any incredible work on any environmental issue, kindly send few photographs with a write up to enviquiz@gmail.com. You can contribute short, informative articles too
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Please visit: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Sukuki-Exnora/230958833661002 https://www.facebook.com/envi.quiz?fref=ts "There is nothing in which the birds differ more from man than the way in which they can build and yet leave a landscape as it was before." - Robert Lynd