Colours take on a few different meanings in the rural context. They are used to decorate the environment (their walls, their clothes, their temples), they are used to make natural resources (fruit or vegetables) look more attractive and thus fetch a higher price, and they also represent an integral part of many puja rituals.

The symbolism of colours in rural India is fascinating and complex. For example, red is considered lucky (indicating prosperity or happiness), while black symbolizes death or mourning for someone who has died. Similarly, white stands for purity and innocence while blue stands for peace and calmness. The tradition of using these colours in rural India goes back centuries; it’s not something that’s just started happening this year!