Holi is also celebrated in Mauritius, Fiji, Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago, Pakistan, and the Philippines.
Most of the herbal colours for Holi are made of arrowroot, which is a herbaceous Caribbean plant from which starch is prepared.
Yellow colour = arrowroot powder + turmeric or marigold powder
Shade of Pink = arrowroot powder + beetroot powder or hibiscus
Shades of orange = arrowroot powder + saffron or carrot powder
Shades of green = arrowroot powder + spinach or coriander powder
Chemical colour pastes may contain toxic, metal-based pigments, which can have side effects
Color
Chemical
Health Effect
Black
Lead oxide
Renal Failure
Purple
Chlorine iodide
Asthama
Silver
Aluminium Bromide
Carcinogenic
Blue
Prussian Blue
Contact Dermatitis
Red Mercury
Sulphite
Highly toxic can cause skin irritation
Holi is believed to have originated in the Vrindavan and Nandgaon towns of Uttar Pradesh in India.
Holi is celebrated in the most fascinating way in Trinidad and Tobago Islands. Its known as Phagwa here, the festival is celebrated with two days of song, music and lots of colours.