Message from Dr Vandana Shiva for Holi and Women’s Day

Navdanya wishes to all the diverse women around the globe, a colourful and joyful International Women’s Day and a Happy Holi. We invite you to join Navdanya in celebrating ecological Holi with Biodiversity based colours that will neither harm our health nor the Earth that sustains us. As Dr. Vandana Shiva, president of Navdanya, stated: “Women of the world are the primary guardians and custodians of biodiversity and life. They are holding and protecting the ancient and precious knowledge on how to use and preserve biodiversity for healthy food, healthy communities and healthy environments”. We are celebrating Women and Biodiversity, taking inspiration from the diversity of nature through colours and food, preparing plant-based natural colours and cooking together special food to celebrate Holi, one of the most important festivals amongst the innumerable festivals of India. Since times immemorial the festivity of Holi has been deeply linked with nature. Its celebrations were meant to say goodbye to winter and welcome Rituraj, Spring. Navdanya started the organic movement in India of growing food without pesticides and poisons, and 25 years ago, Navdanya also initiated the movement of making natural colours for Holi, as alternatives to the toxic colours, that harm our water, soils and ecosystems, as well as practising natural dyeing of organic cotton, initiating the Fibres of Freedom program, to support farmers to grow chemically free organic natural fibres as well as to promote our indigenous skills and knowledge.