A ‘dyeing’ tradition: Taking a look at the colourful Kashmiri art

Kashmiri men dye threads at a dyeing centre in Srinagar. The manual dyeing of fabric has been an industry in Kashmir for a long time now. (Waseem Andrabi/HT Photo)

Updated on: Dec 26, 2016 7:47 PM IST

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Kashmiri men dye threads at a dyeing centre in Srinagar. The manual dyeing of fabric has been an industry in Kashmir for a long time now. (Waseem Andrabi/HT Photo)

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A man pours hot, coloured water into another vessel while dyeing threads. The dyeing industry is boosted by the Valley’s handicraft industry, as the colourful threads are used in designing of products like woollen shawls, carpets and Pashmina products. (Waseem Andrabi/HT Photo)

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The process involves the mixing and producing of the specific colours needed for the dye, the soaking of fabric in boiling, coloured water and then drying the coloured threads. (Waseem Andrabi/HT Photo)

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A man dyes white threads. (Waseem Andrabi/HT Photo)

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Threads being coloured in a large tumbler. (Waseem Andrabi/HT Photo)

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A worker squeezes out excess water after dyeing the threads. Kashmiris have been dyeing fabric and threads manually for around two centuries. (Waseem Andrabi/HT Photo)

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The practice of dyeing is, however, in decline as the labour involved in creating dyes is exhausting and often takes its toll on the workers’ health. (Waseem Andrabi/HT Photo)

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A worker matches the colour of the thread to sample threads. (Waseem Andrabi/HT Photo)

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A Kashmiri man adjusts dyed threads as he leaves them to dry. (Waseem Andrabi/HT Photo)