Siliguri, March 2: Officials of non-timber forest product division of the state forest department today said they had started selling herbal aabir, coloured powder also known as gulal used in Holi, from the department's outlets across north Bengal.

This is the first time that the department has prepared the colour on such a big scale.

"We have prepared over five quintals of aabir this year and started selling it through the outlets of our department across north Bengal from today. The aabir prepared by us is entirely herbal and has been made with talcum powder used in laboratories with dried marigold flowers and wood apple leaves," Debnarayan Saha, the range officer of Siliguri range of NTFP, said.

"The product is available in two colours, green and mauve, and is entirely safe to use," he added.

According to the forest officer, the aabir has been made at the department's ayurvedic and medicine unit at Taipoo near Bagdogra, around 20km from here.

"The raw material, that is, marigold flowers and wood apple leaves, are collected from local forest protection committees. These are then cleaned and grinded in machine. The talcum powder, which is without any chemical, is mixed to prepare the aabir and herbal essence of rose and jasmine are mixed with mauve and green, respectively. The packaging is done in the unit amid hygienic conditions," Saha said.

Earlier, forest sources said, they had made herbal aabir but on a small scale. "This is the first time that we have prepared it in such huge quantities. We expect that it would be sold from all outlets. Herbal aabir has demand in the market because it is chemical-free and not harmful to the skin, unlike some other aabir," a forester said. The department has 65 distributors and several range offices near towns across north Bengal that sell its products, like oils and spices. "We are selling the aabir through these two channels," the forester added.

The aabir, Saha said, is available in 500gm packets and each pack costs Rs 50. "The rate might be slightly higher than similar products. But, as we said, it is completely free from any chemical and safe to use," he said. Normally, such colours cost around Rs 30-40 per 500gm.