Weeklong natural colours training for Happy Holi concludes at Jimmy Mcgilligan centre
The closing ceremony of the weeklong training on natural colours, conducted by Padma Shri Dr. Janak Palta McGilligan at the Jimmy McGilligan Centre, began with a Saraswati Vandana by students of Gujarati Arts & Law College and a Baha’i prayer for unity across the earth. A student from Arunabh Autism School narrated the mythological story of Prahlad and Holika.
Janak Didi welcomed the Chief Guest, Dr. Prateek Shrivastav, Editor-in-Chief of Digiana News and Professor at Gujarati College, along with students and professors of the college and children from Arunabh Autism School, with a natural tilak made of sindoor and parijaat.
This was followed by a practical training session on preparing natural colours for Holi 2026. Addressing the participants, Dr. Janak Palta McGilligan shared, “The purpose of my life is to convey my gratitude to God, who created me as a human being to sustain all of His creations. I celebrate every occasion and festival wholeheartedly while respecting and protecting nature. For the past 15 years, since I became a resident of Sanawadiya village, I have conducted weeklong training sessions before Holi so that everyone can celebrate a beautiful, healthy, and happy Holi.”
During the week, groups of students accompanied by faculty members from the Departments of Social Sciences and Journalism & Mass Communication at Devi Ahilya University, Rotaract members from Acropolis and Prestige Institute of Management, students of Gujarati Arts & Law College, IATV School, children with autism from Arunabh Sanstha, and villagers of Sanawadiya enthusiastically learned to prepare natural Holi colours. Expressing her joy, she said, “I am happy that these children and youth will contribute to transforming India and the world by practicing sustainable living.”
In a live demonstration, Janak Didi invited students to pluck petals of palash (tesu) flowers and gather them in a glass bowl. As soon as hot water was poured over the petals, the water turned a vibrant orange. She similarly prepared magenta colour from poi leaves. Students watched in amazement as they learned to prepare dry gulal from orange and red ambadi petals, as well as from dried bougainvillea flowers and peels of orange and sweet lime. She demonstrated how to make both dry and wet colours from palash, bougainvillea, poi, and beetroot using locally available fruits and flowers.
She emphasized that chemical colours are harmful to both nature and human health, stain skin and clothes, contaminate water bodies, and ultimately degrade the soil. She urged everyone to celebrate Holi in an eco-friendly and joyful manner using natural alternatives.
The programme concluded with an inspiring address by Chief Guest Dr. Prateek Shrivastav, who expressed deep gratitude: “We are thankful to our beloved and respected Janak Didi for training people throughout the week in making natural colours for Holi. She has dedicated her life to thousands of tribal women and hundreds of villages in the challenging regions of Jhabua and Alirajpur and continues to serve selflessly by promoting sustainable, eco-friendly living. She was rightfully conferred the Padma Shri by the Government of India.
“I have been associated with Janak Didi since 1985 and have always been deeply impressed by her dedication to nature. The greatest quality of her life is her humility—she never takes credit for anything and dedicates everything to God. I urge students to step away from the virtual world of mobile phones and dedicate their lives to protecting the environment. Didi has taught us that life is not merely about acquiring or achieving, but about living purposefully and harmoniously with nature.
“What we have learned today is a profound lesson. We pledge to use only natural colours and celebrate Holi this year and in the future in an eco-friendly way. If we want a secure future, we must adopt a sustainable lifestyle and inspire others to do the same. Giving nature the highest priority in our lives is the true way to live.”
