Aal Dyeing - Past and Present

Abstract

India is renowned for the wide variety and excellence in her use of natural dyes in textiles. Aal is one such dye which is used almost in all parts of India for achieving red colour due to its abundant presence. However, the use of synthetic dyes is responsible for declining the use of Aal dye. The process of dyeing as well as its preparation before dyeing varies from place to place. The tribal (Mirgan) community of Kotpad, Koraput in Odisha still uses Aal root barks to dye their unprocessed cotton yarn and weave hand woven cotton textiles.