Traditional dye yielding plants used by different communities of Manipur, north eastern India

Abstract

Manipur harbours rich diversity of dye-yielding plant species and some of the species are at the verse of extractions. Since time immemorial, different ethnic groups in the valley and hill regions of Manipur State have practiced the art of dyeing clothes and other items with natural dyes. The natural dyes were obtained from different plants species which have been used by weavers for imparting different shades of colour to different clothes, bamboo baskets, flower pots, fishing nets etc. The present study was undertaken to survey, document dye-yielding plants and the indigenous knowledge of preparation of natural dyes by the tribal communities of Senapati District of Manipur State. The Survey was carried out during May 2010 to April 2013 by frequent visits to different parts of district located between 24°45΄-24°51΄ N latitude and 93°48΄-93°55΄ E Longitudes at an altitude ranging from 865 m to 1785 m above mean sea level. The information on traditional knowledge of preparation of dye was collected through the interview and formal discussion with weavers/dyers. During the survey, 30 dye yielding plant species belonging to 23 families have been identified and documented used for the preparation of natural dyes by the local inhabitants of the state. Mahonia manipurensis Takeda, the endemic plant species belonging to the region. The present study was undertaken to explore and document availability of 30 natural dye-yielding plant species of Manipur with indigenous knowledge of preparation of natural dyes by the tribal-communities of the state.