A reveller with a Malinga cap and Tricolour mask. (Tamaghna Banerjee)

HOT PICKS

Colours: Baby pink and sunflower yellow. “These two colours are apolitical and it’s better to stay that way in public before the polls,” said Gargi Chatterjee, a second-year student of Asutosh College who had packets of yellow and pink in her hand.

Accessories:

● The Malinga cap — a nylon cap inspired by the curly multicoloured mane of Sri Lankan pacer Lasith Malinga.

● Tricolour masks and shades

RULES OF PLAY

Do

Buy colours from trusted shops

Pick herbal colours

Oil yourself in advance so that the colours don’t outlive the festival

Make sure all open wounds are cleaned and bandaged before you play

Watch out for trouble-makers

Make sure you are well versed with all the Holi dance moves… no hip-hop, no disco… only desi jhatkas and matkas allowed

Don’t

Force people unwilling to play

Throw balloons at cars and pedestrians

Take your car out… if you don’t want it splashed upon

Wear contact lenses while playing

Accept bhaang from strangers

Carry your gizmos

Drink in public

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan in the Holi sequence in Action Replayy

DRESS CODE

For most of us, Holi calls for a faded tee and a shabby pair of jeans. But there are also Bolly buffs, who’ll turn up in crisp white cotton salwar-kameez or kurta-pyjama.

B-town’s design badshah Manish Malhotra, too, is all for the stark white. “It’s time to put away your shabby tees and go for something nice and white. Rekha in a crisp white churidar in Rang barse is one of my favourite Holi looks,” says Manish.

For your feet, rubber chappals are a safe bet.

FOOD GUIDE

The thandai has to kickstart the feast. Fusion sweets are in — chocolate malai roll, strawberry malai roll or a mix of sandesh with cream. If you want to stick to tradition, there’s kaju barfi, motichoor ladoo, malpua and gujia.

“These days, chaat parties are a Holi rage and so are dal kachoris,” says Rajesh Gupta of Gupta Brothers.

WEATHER

It should be pleasant, with the temperature hovering between 24 and 34 degrees Celsius

TIPPLE TIME

Off-shops shut through the day.

Bars open at 3pm.

DOC SAYS

Before playing

Cover up as much as possible. Wear shades to save the eyes, use caps to shield your hair.

While playing

Use dry colours, ideally herbal. Don’t rub eyes if colour goes in. Wash eyes with cold water. If irritation persists, consult a doctor. Those suffering from respiratory problems must avoid dry colours.

After playing

Don’t try to remove colours the same day. Use soap and shampoo but too much effort to remove colours may cause rashes.

After bath, use lots of moisturiser to keep the skin hydrated.

(From dermatologist and t2 columnist Sachin Verma)

TO REMOVE COLOURS

Oil hair and body beforehand. “Use a mild soap, don’t scrub your skin too hard as that could cause rashes,” says Verma. Give the colour three or four days to fade out on its own.

TRAFFIC

No public transport from 9am to 2pm. Metro will run from 3pm at 15-minute intervals.

EMERGENCY

• Lalbazar control room: 22143230
• Traffic control room: 22143644
• Fire brigade: 22521165

WHAT THEY ARE DOING

Koel Mallick

The action at our Bhowanipore home will start early in the morning with all my cousins. But we will play only with abir. Later in the day, we have a family feast. One of my sisters-in-law is an awesome cook and I am looking forward to the spread!

 

Rituparna Sengupta

I don’t play Holi a lot. I’m shooting for a film in Goa now. We might play a little with abir before we start shooting and then have a good lunch.

 

statutory warning

Never, absolutely never, say no! If you dislike colours, take a sleeping pill and snore indoors. But don’t come out and then whine and cry foul or squeal. That is nyakami, to grab attention,” says funnyman and t2 columnist Mir.