Colour is felt, not just seen, in India. It speaks a language older than words, conveys emotion, and tells stories. Colour becomes culture in the gradients of an ikat weave, the folds of a handwoven saree, or the colours of a bandhani dot. Through its textiles, India's soul is depicted, with each shade having a purpose and each tone having a meaning.

A Tradition Infused with Impact

Indian textiles have used colour for centuries in ways other than decoration. Identity, location, event, and belief have all been defined .Colours have spoken of belonging and shaped traditions, from the indigo hues of rural artisans to the saffron robes of monks.

Indian artisans were skilled in the art of natural dyeing, which involved drawing colours from minerals, bark, flowers, and roots before the invention of synthetic dyes. Each colour was chosen to symbolise something sacred or symbolic, and each hue was deliberate.

The Significance of Colour

• The colour of life: Red
  Red has long been used in Indian textiles as a symbol of strength, love, and fertility. It represents auspicious beginnings and strong emotions in everything from temple offerings to bridal silks.
• The colour of prosperity and purity: Yellow
  Yellow, when dyed with pomegranate rind or turmeric, exudes warmth and optimism. It is worn to commemorate sunlight and rebirth during ceremonies and harvests.
• The Legacy of Indigo: Blue
  Indigo dyeing, formerly referred to as "India Blue," was one of India's most significant global contributions. It was the colour of the infinite and the divine, and it stood for serenity, profundity, and spirituality.
• The Integrity of Life: Green
  Green, which is derived from indigo and turmeric, represents fertility, harmony, and the abundance of nature—the harmony between peace and growth.
• The Colour of Peacefulness: White
  White cotton was preferred for its calmness and was linked to simplicity and spiritual purity. It is the colour of self-awareness, modesty, and ageless elegance.
• The Strength of Security: Black
  In traditional textiles, black was frequently misinterpreted as a protective colour. It represented power, enigma, and stability.

Colour is communicated through craft in all of India's regions, with each technique expressing a unique design dialect. Each method turns colour into a narrative, allowing craftspeople to do more than simply dye fabric; they give it vitality. For example:

• Bandhani (Gujarat & Rajasthan): Using resist dyeing, dots of red, yellow, and green tell a story of festive joy.

• Ikat (Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat): A dance between control and chance, Ikat involves dying threads before weaving to create hazy patterns.

• Kalamkari (Andhra Pradesh): Hand-painted with natural dyes, it uses earthy hues to narrate mythological tales.

• Ajrakh (Kutch & Sindh): Layers of block printing and resist create deep indigo and madder prints that exhibit symmetry and balance.

Indian colour sensibilities still influence international design today. The basic principle of Indian colour is timeless, ranging from jewel tones derived from ancient silks to gentle neutrals influenced by handloom khadi.

We at Aurasya, view colour as language: calm yet expressive, timeless yet constantly changing. It is a conversation between tradition and contemporary culture, between feeling and expressing.
It honours identity, emotion, and faith. It whispers tales of craft and continuity, of earth and spirit; Because there is a fundamental truth in every Indian weave and dyed thread: colour is not added to the fabric; rather, it naturally arises.