The spiritual language of colour : exploration of Colour symbolism in Hindu community in eThekwini, South Africa

Abstract

The study aimed to investigate the symbolism of colour in Hinduism and intended to create awareness and promote its application in any design practices such as photography, fashion, advertising, graphic and interior design. The study also takes into account Western influence and the process of globalisation which has brought many changes into the lives of the Hindu community. Literature review has indicated the absence of any similar studies that have developed a colour guide based on colour symbolism in Hinduism. Although a few studies were conducted investigating the general meaning of colour in Hinduism, there was not one which could be applicable in the design field for the Indian audiences. With a specific focus on the Hindu community in eThekwini, South Africa, this case study employed a qualitative research method to investigate the symbolism of colour in Hinduism and how it has been adopted and integrated into the cultural practices. Two samples of population were selected using purposive sampling: namely, 10 religious leaders from 10 eThekwini Temples and 10 senior citizens in the Hindu communities visiting such Temples and practising Hinduism on a regular basis. The participants were interviewed using openended questions and the data was analysed using thematic analysis. Guided by the conceptual framework, the study revealed five themes that emerged from the data: Colours in Hinduism, Psychological Healing Properties of Colours, Differences in Colour Use between South Africa and India, Impact of Globalisation on Colour Use in Hinduism and Western Influence on Young Hindus. The results showed that colour symbolism in Hinduism is still widely used in all Hindu communities, but the process of globalisation has changed the way colours are interpreted and used, especially for younger generations of Hindus. All participants selected for the study were aware of the topic and this contributed greatly to the study. Participants shared their knowledge and experiences as religious leaders and senior members of the community and revealed insights into colour symbolism in Hinduism; for example, red, blue and yellow are the most widely used colours and black is the most avoided colour. The participants explained the challenges faced by the Hindu community and emphasised the negative impact of Western influence on the younger members of the community. An interesting finding of the study revealed that the limited presence of Hindu educational organisations is considered to be one of the reasons why the younger generation of Hindus is more interested in Western practices, rather than learning and understanding their own culture and religion The findings from the analysed data were used in developing a visual colour guide intended for anyone in the design field who wishes to learn, understand and apply the important meanings behind colours in Hindu culture. Wedding photography for the Hindu audience is used as an example to show how the colour guide can be used.