Colors of India

.

The late Raghubir Singh, one of India's most prominent photographers, once said that India is inherently is a colorful nation and black and white photographs can never do complete justice to India's vast diversity. How true!


Design inspired by  National Geographic's Quest for Color (July 1999).
All Pictures by  K. L. Kamat.

First Online: August 15, 1999
Page Last Updated: February 17, 2024

See related contents at Kamat's Potpourri:

Vibrant Colors of India
Colors of India

Pictures
Colors of Traditional SareesColors for Sale The Fish EyesColors, Gold, RitualsWedding Guests
Ready to Participate in a ProcessionColors of MalnadMr. YellowfaceAn Folk Entertainer of Doddata TroupeThe Fearsome Blue
Nomadic ColorsClassical ColorsPlant Galls on Cinnamon Leaves Raw Colors of the WildNational Colors of India
Colors of IndiaColors of an Indian FairThe Science of ColorsThe Blow Horn DancerThe Colors of India

Devotee at Moharam


The Sacrificial Tiger
Body painting  and performing in the praise of the almighty during Moharam


Colors of the Wild

Indian subcontinent is home to a great number of wild animals. Shown here is a leopard

Colors of the Wild


Fancy Head Gear

Portrait of a Kathakkali dancer, South India

Dancer from Kerala

Pungi Entertainer


Fancy Dress

Entertainer at a village festival, Karnataka

Colorful Rumal, Colorful Personality


Colorful Rumal,
Colorful Personality

Folk artist from Dharwad. Note the ash on his forehead and beads around the neck.


Color of Brinjal

This lady of the Grameen Gouli community by tradition has worn blue for centuries. They call it the color of brinjal.

Gameen Gouli Tribal Lady


Forever Merry
Water color painting showing the Sadananda (translation : forever merry) flower. Artist: Mukta Venkatesh

Water Color Painting

Mask of Somana Kunita


Encountering Sun God

The mask used in the worship of Sun God (Somana Kunita), Bangalore

Camel Riders, Rajastan


Colors of
Rajasthan
A couple riding camel on the sands of the Thar Desert. The hardships of the desert have inspired a colorful lifestyle in the state.


Expensive Colors

Indian's passion for gold can be traced to very early times. Here, a piece of Mysore Maharaja's jewelry

Jewelry of the Mysore Maharaja


Decor of a Folk Artist

Decor and expression of a Yakshagana  performer

Yakshagana Dancer

Jain Sage


Color of Spirit

India always has been a fertile ground for man's desire to know God. Here, a Jain Teerthankar in prayer.

Budhist Boy at a Monestary


Colors of Buddhism

The Buddhists regard the yellow and the auburn as sacred colors and it is reflected in all the Tibetan settlements across India


Classical Colors
Facial of a Bharatanatyam classical dancer reveals the perception of traditional beauty in South India.

Bharatanatryam Pose


Face Painting

Painted face of a young boy.

Painted Face

Kambali Dancer
The Caterpillar

Folk artist in the caterpillar posture.

Painting form Sirsi Temple


The Ghastly Blue

Angry Goddess (Kali) tears apart the evil demon


The Sober Blue

A devotee praises the greatness of Lord Krishna (who is is always shown in blue by Indian artists)

Lost in Krishna's Worship


Color of Erotica

Husband shows off erect manhood, wooden carving

Wooden Carving Leather Puppet
Painted  Puppet

Now a fast vanishing art in South India, painted puppets have entertained folklore for generations
Tusker in the Forest


The Black Beauty

A lone elephant in the Bandipur National Park.


Colors of History

From the beginning of time, Indians have used hues and color in their art. Here, ancient mural from Karnataka

Ancient Mural

 

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