In India, colour has been explored and celebrated throughout the length and breadth of the country, from the glorious caves of Ajanta to the contemporary Indian artist’s peculiar sensitivity and understanding. Within the framework of traditional Indian aesthetics, colour is imbued with deep symbolism. Each colour describes a state of emotional being and is even ascribed a presiding deity and specific relevance. That is why the four directions of Earth signify the association of a particular colour with a particular direction (disha). East direction is associated with white colour. West is associated with red. North direction is associated with yellow while South is associated with red. Not only are the directions associated with colours but our planets are also associated with particular colours: Sun (Surya): yellow; Moon (Chandra): white; Mars (Mangal): red; Mercury (Budha): green; Jupiter (Guru): yellow chrome; Venus (Shukura): white; Saturn (Shani): black; Rahu & Ketu: black/white. You can appease a particular planet’s god by keeping objects of that colour with you. You can get rid of the negative influence of a planet by donating articles in the colour of that planet.

The Indian aesthetic theory, as described by Bharata’s Natyashastra, associates specific colours with specific emotions or moods— the erotic (shringara rasa) is denoted by blue or shyama; the comic (hasya rasa) by white; pathos (karuna rasa) by grey; fury (rudra rasa) by red, the heroic (vira rasa) by yellowish-white; and terror (bhayanaki rasa) by black. The acquaintance of Indians with the significance of different colours is thus centuries old.

In this scientific era, the study of colours falls within the fields of physics, psychology and physiology. But for the artist, science becomes almost irrelevant, even in the domain of visual perception , and colour becomes a personal study, and the research laboratory is a person’s own consciousness. We must turn away from the outer world of academic references of colours to the world within and there lies the perception of colour.

As we know, the rainbow has seven colours: violet, indigo, blue, green, yellow, orange and red. Each colour expresses the wavelength of light that in turn produces sensations on our mind.

Violet represents majesty and richness. Blue suggests peace, tranquility and emits coolness, providing a good contrast. Green, being bright, lively and energetic, is a stimulated colour that gives a fresh feeling and inspires creativity. Yellow has a naturally soothing nature and lends serenity, and at the same time can provide a fresh ambience. Orange is extraordinarily versatile and imparts great energy, along with warmth and comfort. Bright red evokes intimacy, adding warmth and comfort. White reflects peace and unity whereas black expresses sorrow and darkness.

In contemporary daily ritual practice too, colour is indispensable; be it the kumkum and sandal for the tilak or the turmeric, rice paste and roli for wall and floor drawings. Everything in life is coloured and a surprising amount of that colour is subject to individual control. Colours make direct appeal to our senses and help to express emotions, feelings and ideas and make the environment more joyful, pleasant and inspiring. Individuals seen in the context of their own home can have dictated not only the colour scheme of the decor, but that of their own clothes and cosmetics.