Alta (dye)

Alta (Bengali: আলতা), lakshaya rasa, alah, or mahavar is a red dye mainly used in the Indian subcontinent[1][2][3][4][5][6][7] to tint the hands and feet of women as a cultural practice.

Natural alta is produced from red lac, although today it is mainly replaced with synthetic dyes.

[8] Early mention of alta comes from Upanishads where it is known as lakshaya rasa meaning red-lac dye pigment derived from lac resin as one of sixteen adornments of woman known as solah-shringar.

[14][15][16] Wearing alta on Durga Puja is a common ritual for Odia and Bengali women.

It is applied to women's feet as an auspicious symbol during Raja (Mithun Sankranti), which is a three-day festival celebrating womanhood (menstruation).

A Bengali Muslim Bride's hand on her Gaye Holud, Bangladesh
A Bengali bride's hand adorned with alta on her gaye holud ceremony
A ceremony welcoming the newly wed bride to her new home, with the feet dipped in a mixture of milk and alta
Odissi classical dancer wearing alta on her hands and feet