Natural Dyes from the Himalayas - the splash of colours from nature

Posted by: Admin Pragya
Posted On: 15-July-2012

The northeastern state of Arunachal Pradesh is home to a wide variety of economically important plants and is also a major biodiversity hotspot. The ethnic communities inhabiting the state have evolved various ways over the years to utilize the state’s rich plant resource in different ways, such as food supplements, medicines, in construction, handicrafts etc. Many of these plants are also used in preparation of natural dyes and have applications in cosmetics, textiles and colorants. The indigenous communities use traditional knowledge for extraction of dyes. Their processing and preparation from different parts of the plants like the bark, fruits, leaves and roots; sometimes they also use animal residues in the preparation process. Some of the popular plants found in West Kameng district, which are used by the indigenous communities in making dyes are given below.

• Daphne papyracea, locally known as ‘shugu-sheng’, is used by the Monpa tribe for preparation of dyes as well as a form of handmade paper. The paper is especially used in the monasteries for writing scripts and painting, and the bark and fruit is used to make a dark red dye.

• Desmodium multiflorum is a kind of shrub found in West Kameng and other districts of the state and grows mostly along the slopes up to an altitude of 2000 meters in the subtropical temperate forest. The flowers are used for extraction of a purple dye.

• Engelhardtia spicata is found in the subtropical forests of the district and is locally known as ‘corcorshing’. The bark of the tree is used for the production of a dark brown dye.

• Illicium griffithii or ‘lissi’ can be found in both West Kameng and Tawang districts, growing in the subtropical and temperate forests between altitudes of 1200 and 1800 meters. The bark, seeds and leaves of the plant are used for producing a traditional yellow dye.

• Indigofera tinctoria is known as ‘zia-shing’ by the locals and grows throughout the state; it can be found both in the wild and in cultivation. The leaves and pods of the shrub are used for preparing an indigo colored dye.

• Juglans regia, locally called ‘kay’, is cultivated and can also be found in the wild, growing between altitudes of 1500 and 3000 meters. A black colored dye is produced from the unripe fruits of the tree.

• Pinus wallichiana or locally ‘tongschi lamshing’ can be found in the subtropical and temperate zones of West Kameng between altitudes of 2000-3500 meters. A black colored dye is extracted from the bark of the plant.

• Punica granatum is found growing at altitudes between 500 and 700 meters. The shrub is locally called ‘dalim’ and its flowers and fruits are used to make black and deep blue dye.

• Rubia cordifolia is known as ‘lining-ru’ by the Monpa tribe and is found between altitudes of 1500 meters and 3500 meters. The whole plant is used for producing red colored dye.

• The Rubia sikkimens herb can be found growing in moist soil between altitudes of 500 to 1500 meters. The whole plant is used for producing a red colored dye.

• Symplocos paniculata is also known as ‘parehangne’ and a yellow colored dye is produced from its bark.

Posted on: 25-July-2012,  14:30 pm