Roughly 100 g of gulal per person is a realistic figure for a normal society Holi — so a hundred-person event needs about 10 kg. Double it if your crowd is enthusiastic or the event runs all morning. That arithmetic is the first thing to settle, because natural colours sell out before Holi and there is no last-minute restock.
How Much to Order
| Event | People | Gulal |
|---|---|---|
| Family gathering | 10–15 | 1–2 kg |
| Small society block | 40–50 | 4–6 kg |
| Society Holi | 100 | 10–15 kg |
| School event | 200–300 | 15–25 kg (children use less) |
| Corporate / community event | 500+ | Enquire |
Children use noticeably less than adults — school events run leaner than you would expect from a headcount.
Our colours come in 100 g, 250 g, 500 g and 1 kg. For an event, 1 kg packs are the sensible unit. See the pack of four for a colour set, or single colours: pink, orange, green, yellow.
Why It Costs More Than the Cheap Stuff
Because it is made from different material. Natural gulal is turmeric, beetroot, hibiscus, spinach, neem and tesu (palash) flower on a base of arrowroot or maize starch.
Cheap commercial gulal is an industrial dye on chalk or silica. Testing by Indian consumer and environmental organisations has repeatedly found lead, chromium, copper sulphate and malachite green in coloured powders — none of which is food-grade, and all of which get thrown into the air and inhaled.
There is no way to make flower-based colour as cheap as industrial dye. That is the whole difference.
How to Tell What You Have Been Sent
| Natural | Synthetic | |
|---|---|---|
| Colour | Softer, earthy | Neon, very bright |
| Smell | Herbal or none | Chemical |
| Texture | Soft, fine | Sometimes gritty |
| Washing off | 1–2 washes | Stains for days |
The clearest signal is brightness. A colour that looks impossibly vivid did not come from a flower. Natural colours are beautiful but softer — that is what they should look like, and it is worth telling your society members in advance so nobody is disappointed.
Second signal: if it takes four days to scrub off, it was not made from marigold.
Running a Safer Event
- Tell people to oil skin and hair first. Coconut oil creates a barrier and colour lifts off easily afterwards. One WhatsApp message to the group does this.
- Sunglasses for children. Even natural gulal irritates eyes.
- Apply to cheeks and forehead, not thrown at faces — especially with children.
- Keep clear of anyone with asthma. Any airborne powder is a trigger, natural or not.
- Have water and mild soap available. Ubtan lifts colour better than soap and does not strip skin.
Order Six Weeks Ahead
This is not a sales line. Natural colours are made in limited quantities from actual crops — there is no factory that can produce more of a flower-based gulal on demand in March. Suppliers genuinely run out, and courier networks congest before the festival.
For a society or school event, place the order six weeks out. If you are collecting money from members, start that conversation eight weeks out.
The same applies to Ganpati gulal before visarjan season.
The Water Argument
Worth putting in your society notice, because it persuades people the health argument alone does not.
Everything used at Holi ends up in the drains, and at Ganpati visarjan it goes directly into rivers and the sea. Heavy metals do not break down — they settle into sediment and enter the food chain through fish.
See Natural Gulal for Ganpati: Why It Matters for the Water.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much per person?
About 100 g for adults, less for children. Round up for an enthusiastic crowd.
Can we get a custom colour mix?
Ask when you enquire.
Do natural colours stain clothes?
Less than synthetic, and they wash out far more easily — but light fabrics may still mark. Tell people to wear old clothes regardless.
Are they safe for children?
Much safer than synthetic. Still keep powder away from eyes and avoid inhaling it.
How long do they keep?
Stored dry and sealed, from one Holi to the next. Keep them away from humidity.
Enquire
Bulk orders · Organic Holi colours
For external use. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Keep away from eyes and avoid inhaling any powder.
