There are hundreds of different cultures in the world. Every culture adheres to certain customs. Certainly colors also affect the customs and culture of a country. This is the reason why I want to talk today about Indian culture and its colors.
India is a colorful country. To be more precise, it is a country full of colorful celebrations, colorful food and colorful clothes. So you have to guess how important color is to Hindus.
Now the question is what does each color mean in Indian culture? What is each symbol color? You will find out the answers to these questions with me in the future!
Walk with me:
Why is India colorful?
Yes, it’s colorful. This is the first description that comes to mind after hearing the name of India. And I think that word is the best description to know about Indian culture.
In fact, in this country, everything, I emphasize, everything has a unique diversity. That is, there are food, religions, language, skin color, sari, jewelry, celebrations and even a variety of spices, the color of which is an integral part of each.
In addition, the origin of this colorfulness and color symbolism in Indian culture dates back to ancient times. They believed that this symbolism of color was associated with three gunas:
I. Tamas: Its color is almost black and indicates death and destruction.
II. Rajas: Its color is red and indicates anger and passion.
III. Sattva: Its color is white and represents separation and truth.
Gradually, other colors became respected in Indian culture and their use increased. In the following, we will discuss the meaning of Indian colors and their symbolism.
Indian colors meaning
Each color has its own unique meaning in Indian culture. Let’s understand the meaning of Indian colors together:
White in Indian culture
As a rule, white symbolizes calmness and purity. But in India, this color has a different meaning. In fact, white in India is a symbol of mourning.
For this reason, Indians wear white in mourning and farewell ceremonies with their lost loved ones. Traditionally, widows also had to wear white.
So you can guess why the Taj Mahal, which is a symbolic tomb in the world, is made of white marble.
At the same time, white can be a symbol of calm, brightness and knowledge. So that thoughtful gurus in India prefer to wear white.
Indigo in Indian culture
Some Hindus, especially those in Rajasthan, believed that colds and illness came from the Brahmins. On the other hand, it was believed that indigo would eliminate disease, calamity, and evil from the Brahmins.
That’s why when children got sick, they sprayed indigo water on their chests. And sometimes they even kept the babies away from the evil eye by tying a indigo cotton thread around their waists.
Blue in Indian culture
In Hindu culture, the color blue can have a variety of meanings. Blue is a symbol of water, so it represents life and power. It is also a symbol of the seas and the sky, so it represents infinity.
In addition, Krishna, revered by most Hindus, is blue, a symbol of infinite reality. Some Hindus also wear blue clothes and believe that blue keeps evil away from them.
But some Brahmins never wear blue because they believe it is destructive.
Green in Indian culture
It is clear that green is a symbol of nature, so it is a sign of a new beginning and a new life. Mostly, India is a country where agriculture is widespread. So green will be more important.
Above all, Deccani brides wear green because they see green as a sign of fertility. Unlike other Hindu brides who use red.
Yellow in Indian culture
It is good to know that yellow is a sacred color in India. This color is a symbol of balance, warmth and spring. Yellow also represents the earth.
In addition, Hindus use yellow in celebrations. Hindus wear yellow clothes and eat yellow sweets at Vasant Panchami.
Besides, the Hindu goddess Saraswati, wears a yellow dress. Also in haldi ceremony, brides wear yellow dresses. Krishna’s dress is also yellow, which shows her transcendence.
Orange in Indian culture
This color is a symbol of wisdom and love in Indian culture. Also, the color of Hindu fundamentalist political parties and even the current ruling party in India is orange. In addition, gurus, monks and yogis wear clothes of this color.
Red in Indian culture
Hindus believe that red is a symbol of blood, power, anger and enthusiasm. At the same time, red is a symbol of love. In fact, red is a color that can increase fear, but it can be a sign of living a pure life.
Most Hindu brides wear red because it is considered a symbol of fertility, well-being and marital happiness. For this reason, married women can wear red, but not widows!
It is interesting to know that the goddess Durga is always depicted with a red sari. Also in Indian astrology, red is associated with the planet Mars.
Finally, the red tilak, a symbol that almost all Hindus wear on their foreheads, symbolizes the third eye of God Shiva. And the Hindus believed that this red emblem would protect their wisdom. Of course, today it is used as an accessory.
Holi colors meaning
If you are in India in late February or March, you can definitely attend Holi. A celebration held on the occasion of the arrival of spring.
So, if you have heard about this celebration, you know for sure that this celebration is full of colors. On this day, people usually wear white clothes and throw colored powders at each other.
In the past, the principle was that the colors of Holi celebration were taken from flowers and plants. But today they produce colors artificially. But in any case, colors have meaning. Whether natural or artificial!
In fact, blue is a spiritual color in the celebration of Holi and for the gods. The color of nature and happiness is green. Yellow is also a sacred color for the gods. Red is probably the most important color and is for protection and love.
Well, if you want more information about this celebration, I can direct you here. Because I’m sure it will help you!
Indian flag colors
The three colors that make up the flag of India are, in fact, the aspirations of that country. Each color also has a meaning.
From above, the color orange or saffron indicates courage and sacrifice. White also indicates peace, tranquility and sincerity of intention. In addition, the color green indicates fertility and faith. Finally, the blue wheel, which is located in the middle of the flag, represents the “Ashoka Chakra”.
Color palette inspiration of Indian colors
Let’s see some color palette of the Indian people and their culture!
The last word
In Indian culture in general, bright colors indicate happiness and enthusiasm. And dark colors indicate misery and misery.
With full knowledge of colors, you can gain more mastery of Indian culture and use this knowledge in the right direction for your purposes.
I hope I have provided useful information for you. I am always ready to hear your comments.