Holi - The Festival Of Colours In India

Colour Stories

"Bura naa mano, Holi hai!" these words open floodgates of colourful Holi memories, don’t they? As we gear up to play Holi this month, here are some interesting legends associated with this Festival of Colours.

The festival is synonymous with boisterous pranks, merrymaking and a riot of colours – either as powder or water along with the notorious 'pichkaari'. Dyed water is shot or thrown from buckets or in the form of water balloons. There are various versions about why Holi is celebrated.

Holi celebrates the arrival of spring, which is a season of hope and joy. The celebration of Holi is intertwined with the story of Holika.

As the story goes, Hiranyakashyap, the demon king wanted to take his son, Prahlad's life with the help of his sister, Holika. However, Prahlad survived unscathed while Holika was burnt live. Since that day onwards, the day is celebrated in victory of good over evil.

Another version says that Lord Krishna often teased the Gopis with water and dry colours. According to yet another legend, infant Krishna killed the demonic 'Putna' on the same day and Rasleela was celebrated by gopiyas in memory of this miracle.

Another story says that Krishna was jealous of Radha's fair complexion as he was dark-skinned. He confided about it to his mother Yashoda, who teasingly asked him to colour Radha's face using any colour he liked and see the change in the complexion.

Today, Holi is played with great enthusiasm in the two Northern cities of India, Vrindavan and Mathura that is associated with Lord Krishna.

What is wonderful about the festival of Holi is that it is impossible to distinguish who is rich and poor once covered in colour. Every barrier among people, be it young or old are broken down by the colourful colours of Holi.

In the olden days, 'gulal' colours were made at home using flowers of 'Palash' known as the 'Flame of the Forest'. Once the flowers were plucked, they were sundried and then ground to fine dust. The powdered dust would turn into a brilliant hue of saffron-red on being mixed in water. These saffron-red pigments along with the coloured powdered talc known as ‘aabir’ were the main colours used for Holi.

These days, the festival of Holi has taken on a new form with people painting the town red, yellow, green, purple, pink, orange and every colour one can possibly think of!

Colour Trivia

Colour Facts For March 2020

1. If you are thinking of getting a new coloured tattoo and looking for colour ideas, you will find there are a lot of options- from neons, brighter shades and pastels. When opting for colours, your skin tone plays an important role since melanin acts as a filter and bright colours such as red, blue and yellow might not look as good as you expect it to. Avoid reds, yellows and oranges if there is even a slight chance that you might want to get the tattoo removed later since they are most resistant to laser removal treatments. Neon skin inks are loaded with chemicals and mercury and the reds are probably the worse. It is best to speak to your tattoo artist about natural inks and dyes.
2. International Women’s Day falls on March 8th and there are so many ways you can get involved; one of the easiest is to wear purple along with thousands of women around the world. But, why do people wear purple to mark this day? It is not just because it is a pretty colour! The International Women’s Day organisers say that purple is the colour of the future and it has always symbolised gender equality that we’re still fighting for today. Now widely associated with contemporary feminism, the colour purple symbolises achievements made so far and yet to come for gender parity.
3. Rose gold has seen a phenomenal rise in popularity in the last few years. It has gone from being a rather unfashionable colour to being a classic choice for both accessories and home interiors. So, what makes the colour so loved? Rose gold is a happy medium between the stark appeal of white gold and classic feel of yellow gold. It has a romantic look to it and pairs wonderfully with most colours- be it other metallics, neutrals or bright shades. If you are looking for inspiration to incorporate this colour in your home, an easy way is with décor accessories. Whether you prefer a rosy-hued candle or pink-tined cushions, you will find that any item you want comes in rose gold finish.

Colour Quotes For March 2020

• "The soul becomes dyed with the color of its thoughts."

  - Marcus Aurelius

• "If everyone would look for that uniqueness then we would have a very colorful world."

  - Michael Schenker

• "With color one obtains an energy that seems to stem from witchcraft."

  - Henri Matisse

Colour Tips For March 2020

1. Any interior designer will confirm the power of colour to transform a room, be it a bold accent wall or unexpected ceiling paint. And when it comes to colours that will dominate in 2020, bold monochromatic is a winner. Monochromatic does not have to be plain and subtle. For home colour ideas, shades like cobalt blue, aubergine or even pastels can create a monochromatic look in a daring way. These colours are full of personality and elegance and will instantly make any room feel richer and grander.
2. Choosing paint colours can be confusing and frustrating when there are so many options to choose from. The good news is that certain colours work best, based on specific rooms. For the kitchen, a colour palette consisting of grey, blue, red, yellow and white stands out. Each of these hues can be used in a unique way and they all help create a warm and welcoming space. Colours like red and yellow are said to boost the appetite and pop in the kitchen, be it on the walls or kitchen cabinets. Since most people start their day in the kitchen, white can help set a tone for a relaxing atmosphere. White kitchens can however be difficult to maintain and it is best to opt for washable paints like Berger Easy Clean. For accents of colours, you can use printed kitchen towels and curtains or even add fresh flowers.

World Of Colours

Colours & Emotion For March 2020

1. People associate different meanings to colours. There is no simple explanation for the interaction of colour and emotional response. Some studies show that the light of different colours enters the eye and indirectly affects the hypothalamus, which in turn affects the pituitary gland. The pituitary gland is responsible for our hormone levels and perhaps our moods. Some experiments have indicated that colour may influence our emotions. One experiment showed that in a room with red light, time was overestimated while in blue or green light, time was underestimated. Interesting, isn’t it?
2. Colours play a great role in enhancing our mood and making us happy, sad, calm and angry. It is no hidden fact that a very soothing and relaxing ambience can be created in the bathroom using colours such as lavender, minty green and blue. These colours are known as cool colours and have a calming effect on people. Light blue and lavender are also known to decrease agitation and calm down the mind. Cool colours such as blue are known to lower blood pressure and decrease anxiety. Hope you make use of these colour ideas while doing up your bathroom too. Happy Painting!

Colours & Fashion For March 2020

The 80s has to be one of the most interesting decades in terms of fashion and trends. Who can forget the tapered jeans, feathered bangs, faux gold earrings, shiny costume jewellery and shoulder pads?! So it is no surprise then that colour trends for 2020 has been pulled out from that era too. Do you remember how neon was a huge rage back then? You can pay an ode to neon-inspired colours this season, be it through clothes, accessories, home décor elements or wall paint. Whether bright or deep hues, they are sure to create a luminous effect. Love it or hate it, you can’t ignore it! Get ready for some neon!

Colours & Gems For March 2020

1. Snowflake Obsidian

   The gem that you are looking at is the stone of purity known as Snowflake Obsidian. Volcanic in origin, Snowflake Obsidian is not considered a true mineral as it does not have an entirely consistent chemical content and doesn’t form crystals. It does not appear in different shades of colours either. It is usually black with white patches. It is known to draw emotions to the surface and to examine harmful thought patterns in people. It is believed to remove negativity from a space or person. Snowflake Obsidian is also known to heal old karmic patterns. Fascinating, isn’t it?

2. Pyrope Garnet

   This mesmerizing gemstone is known as Pyrope garnet. It is the best known of the red garnets. Don’t be confused by its distinctive red colour that can often resemble that of ruby or pomegranate seeds.

   The word "pyrope" comes from the Greek word "puropus", made up of "pur" (fire) and "ops" (eye) which means "fiery-eyed". It refers to the remarkable brilliance of pyrope garnet, which is due to its high refractive index. Pyrope Garnet is a very versatile stone that can be cut into many shapes. It is not usually seen in large sizes, but it can be faceted to best exhibit its beauty.

Colours & Nature For March 2020

1. Nature often seems to have an interesting way of displaying its extraordinary beauty. Each time we think we’ve seen it all, it shows us something that blows our mind. Be it rainbows, the discovery of flora and fauna or even something in the outer space, there is always something new for you to discover. The bioluminescent waves of Vaadhoo Island in the Maldives is one such discovery scientists and nature lovers alike are fascinated with. A concentrated population of bioluminescent phytoplankton resides on the water, putting up quite an exhibit for viewers. Different species of phytoplankton are known to bio luminesce; the chemical energy is turned into light, illuminating the waves, as seen here.
2. Home colours inspired by nature, bringing in elements of the woods and gardens are set to become one of the biggest colour trends today. For home painting ideas, hues inspired by nature, be it a series of pastels or earth tones, according to experts, helps cultivate a safe, serene space. These tones bring the tranquillity of nature and outdoor world into the home, giving us a chance to stop, breathe and connect with nature in our busy lives. You can also use stencils inspired by the nature and see your home transform into the most blissful space, a place you will love to unwind and relax in.

Décor

Creative Home Décor Tips For Decorating On A Budget

Redoing a room doesn’t have to be heavy on the pockets!

Nothing beats redoing a room and feeling like you are walking into a brand new space. And for a look that is easy on your wallet, there are quick décor ideas that you can use for decorating on a budget that doesn’t skimp on style.

Freshen up walls with paint for home

Walls are one of the first visual elements our eyes encounter in a living space. This makes it the easiest and quickest way to change the look of the room. In fact, even repainting just the trims can have a big impact. You can either create an accent wall using textured paint and stencils or opt for a painted ceiling to make the room look bigger. You can also use wooden paint or paint your floors for a makeover that’s in your budget.

DIY artwork

Even photocopied art looks sophisticated when you use quirky frames. You can even create interesting artwork using pieces of patterned fabric or wallpaper, completed jigsaw puzzles and pictures cut out from a magazine.

Shop at flea markets

You can find great unique pieces at a flea market, at a bargain price. While some are perfect on its own, other pieces can be improvised using a coat of paint.

Go green

Plants are beneficial to the home décor in so many ways, but for the purpose of this style guide, they are also a super cheap decorating element. Plants can fill awkward spaces and infuse a space with natural energy. Plants are a budget-conscious decorator’s best friend!

Create an atmosphere

Adding candles can instantly create a feeling of cosiness. This can also be achieved by simply switching your white lights and bulbs to a soothing yellow. Bring in flowers or bowls of fruit to help set a mood, convey a sense of style and add scent.

Re-arrange and re-organise

If you want to transform your room without spending any money, start by getting rid of the clutter and reorganising the furniture. Keep your surfaces neat and clean and display some art. Style your bookshelves by arranging books by colour coding them and arranging art, boxes and knick-knacks.

Quick Ideas To Make Your Home Holi-Ready

This Holi, your house deserves a colourful makeover!

Holi is one of the best times to decorate your homes because it marks the beginning of spring in most of India. And since Holi is known as the festival of colours, you’ll find plenty of inspiration if you look around.

If you are looking for quirky and colourful ideas for your home for Holi, we have you covered:

Bedroom

With the summer around the corner, steer out the darkness and dullness from your bedroom by adding cheerful and bright colours like yellow, orange and green. Whether you are thinking of home painting or simply adding a punch of colour using accessories, even the slightest pop of colour will instantly brighten up the space. Upgrade the lighting fixtures and sconces with sustainably sourced bamboo lamps. Bring in some fresh flowers like marigold and lotus and add some scented candles. Or simply change the bedspread and pillows to a bright, colourful hue.

Living Room

Bring in colours to your living room with the help of wall stencils by Berger Paints. You can choose from different themes to add an element of interest to your boring walls. They will also become a great conversation starter for guests visiting your home. Add colourful cushions and curtains that are washable and resistant to Holi colours. Use crystal bowls to place flower petals and candles as centerpieces.

Bathroom

Since your bathroom will be often visited by guests during Holi, leave out the white towels for another day and replace them with darker, older towels you don’t mind getting dirty. It is also a good idea to get some scented soaps and lotions and display them using quirky jars and plates, a gesture your guests will truly appreciate.

Kitchen

For the kitchen, you can create a colourful flower rangoli on the entrance. You can also use colourful paper buntings as an easy décor idea. Add colourful flowers in a jug to perk up the space. Use your fancy cake stands for Holi sweets and mithai like jalebi and ladoos. Hang a colourful penchant light to complete the Holi décor.

Balcony and Terraces

Gear up to make your balcony and terraces ready for Holi! For the aesthetics, you can decorate using colourful paper buntings and flower garlands. You can also decorate your patio with a flower rangoli. Use quirky bowls to store eco-friendly Holi colours. To protect your furniture and walls, ensure that all surfaces are washable and won’t stain with the colours. For washable paint, Berger Easy Clean is a great option since it comes in multiple shades and keeps your walls stain free for years to come.

Moving Into A New Home? Remember These Three Tips!

Expert tips to help make the move easier.

If you are planning to move houses soon, you’ll find that the process can be very intensive. There is the task of finding a perfect space and then packing and clearing your old space out. Not just that, you also need to consider the décor of the new space. To make things easier, we cover 3 tips that will help make the move a whole lot easier.

Your furniture might become outdated

When moving into a new space, some of your bigger furniture might not work since the scale or style of the major pieces might not fit. Before you move in, plan the floor space and only take the furniture that will you will use. For the rest of the pieces, you can have a garage sale. If your furniture takes a beating during the moving process or looks dull, you can revamp the pieces using wood coatings and finishes by Berger Paints. You can also give glass surfaces in the house or on your furniture a new, upgraded look using glass coatings by Berger Paints.

Your walls will most definitely need a makeover. Don’t delay the painting!

If you leave the task of home painting for after you move in, you will certainly delay it further. The best time to paint the walls in your new space is before the move since you won’t have to worry about damaging the furniture and décor. Moreover, you can start planning the kind of ambiance you wish to create using wall colours. For an interesting look, you can use textured paint on a wall in the living room to create a focal point.

Consider carefully what needs to be packed and what needs to be kept behind

Go through the stuff you own and divide in two piles: things you have used in the past year and things you haven’t. Get rid of everything that doesn’t serve a function anymore. This will help you save time, money and effort to move unwanted items.

Colours & Ancient Sciences

Feng Shui For March 2020

Home renovation on your mind? Read on for some Feng Shui ideas for interior decoration that you need to consider before getting into renovation mode.

Feng Shui Tips For Home Revamp!

Bad Feng Shui: Front door in alignment with the back door

Feng Shui is all about creating a balance and harmony in the house through the right flow of energy. A direct alignment of the front door with the back door is known to create a harsh quality of Feng Shui energy resembling Sha Chi.

Bad Feng Shui: Staircase that faces the main door

In a situation where the stairs are facing the main door, Feng Shui energy quickly rushes to the higher floor, leaving the main floor without proper Feng Shui energy nourishment.

Bad Feng Shui – Bathroom above a bedroom

A bathroom that is above a bedroom is not the best Feng Shui arrangement. You can look into how busy the bathroom will be and how often it will be used by the people living in the house to rethink this set-up.

Bad Feng Shui – The master bedroom over the garage

A bedroom over the garage is considered a bad Feng Shui. This is because of the unsettling energy caused when the garage is used to park cars or owing to the stagnant low energy created by the clutter stored.

Bad Feng Shui – Bathroom facing the main door

It is not rocket science to figure out why the bathroom facing the main door is bad Feng Shui. The universal energy known as Chi is believed to come into the house through the main door. If your bathroom faces the front door, most of the good energy can easily escape through the bathroom, leaving little or no good Feng Shui to nourish the house.

Bad Feng Shui: Staircase in the centre of the house

A staircase in the centre of a home spells bad Feng Shui and is best avoided. If you have plans to have a staircase in the centre of your house, you might want to reconsider it.

Hope these tips make you Feng Shui smart and help you make sound decisions during your home renovation. All the best!

Reiki For March 2020

You don’t need to be into spirituality to enjoy the benefits of Reiki. Read on to know more.

Can Reiki help spiritual growth and emotional cleansing?

We grow with age, our cells multiply, decay, regenerate and life goes on. We cannot stop the inevitable. Reiki, the Japanese energy healing technique can help nurture our mind and enlighten us if we’re on a self-healing journey.

Reiki is a method of energy healing based on the use of therapeutic touch (or without touch, depending on the practitioner) which has a direct link to the spiritual growth of a person. It is one of the most important things people inculcate while learning and practising Reiki at home. It can also be termed as "Spiritually Guided Life Force Energy". The healing takes place with the intensified approach of cleaning the body through healing chakras. Chakras are opened and energy pathways are cleared by getting rid of toxins in the body. Reiki acts as a path of spiritual healing and makes a person feel great, both physically and mentally. The energy, or biofield, healing method of Reiki is designed to trigger the body’s relaxation response and reduce stress, which aids the immune system in fighting illness. Due to this, it is widely used in hospitals and clinics as an adjunct to traditional care. It also promotes peace and well-being; supports emotional growth and calm in both practitioners and patients; yielding increased mental clarity and capacity for love and empathy.

According to results from a 2011 study, people who had Reiki had better moods compared to people who didn’t have Reiki. The study participants who had six 30-minute sessions over two to eight weeks showed improvements in their mood.

Reiki is a profound and effective method with endless benefits for healing on a multi-layered and holistic level: mind, body, and spirit. People can experiment with their unique ability to get things going on the right track with it.

We hope that this article helps you in your journey to spiritual well-being and cleansing.

Vaastu For March 2020

Exams are on in full swing in India. While anxiety is at its peak during these crucial days, there are certain changes you can make in the house to release the stress and anxiety.

Vaastu for Exams!

Here are some interior design tips according to Vaastu that will help you during exam time:

Painting in the study room

Paintings of galloping horses and rising sun are encouraged to be hung in the study room since it can aid boost energy that is required when studying for exams. Avoid pictures or paintings of negative emotions in this room.

Natural light and ventilation

Make sure the room the child is studying in gets ample of sunlight and ventilation. Closed, dimly lit rooms that smell of moisture do affect that state of mind. You can also add a few indoor plants to brighten the environment, air-purifying plants will help keep the air clean too!

Wall colours

Soothing colours like yellow or green should be used in the study room. Avoid very dark or very loud colours like purple or red. If you have some time to go before exams, you can opt for Berger Express Painting to get dust-free painting done at your home. You can also use green and yellow hues in the furnishings – curtains, bedsheets, pillow covers, mats and so on.

De-clutter the Study Table

Study table should be kept neat and clean, decluttered and organised. Clutter always adds to anxiety and organised desks lead to peace of mind. Study table should be placed in East, North-East or North direction. Avoid keeping any eatables on the study table. You can keep a small crystal or idol of God on the study table.

Music

Avoid loud, distracting music in the study room. Choose soft instrumental music like Mozart, Beethoven or even Indian classical music – it will make you feel peaceful and help improve concentration.

We hope these tips help you and your child during exam times. All the best from Team Berger Paints!