GI-certified Udupi sari dyed with arecanut ‘chogaru’ and other natural dyes launched at Talipady Weavers’ Society

‘Udupi sari’ dyed with arecanut ‘chogaru’ (a liquid obtained during the boiling of unripened arecanut kernel or tender nuts) and other natural dyes launched at the Talipady Primary Weavers’ Service Cooperative Society Ltd., Kinnigoli in Dakshina Kannada

Highlighting the prevalence of dye extracted from arecanut, the Executive Editor of Adike Pathrike Shree Padre said on Monday that royal families in Japan were using arecanut dye 1,200 years ago.

He was speaking at the launch of the ‘Udupi sari’ dyed with arecanut ‘chogaru’ (a liquid obtained during the boiling of unripened arecanut kernel or tender nuts) and other natural dyes at the Talipady Primary Weavers’ Service Cooperative Society Ltd., Kinnigoli in Dakshina Kannada, under the guidance of Kadike Trust, a non-government organisation based at Karkala in Udupi district. Kadike Trust is the promoter of Udupi sari which enjoys the Geographical Indication tag.

Mr. Padre said that royal families in Japan were importing arecanut from Indonesia as the former was not cultivating it. Documents reveal that dye extracted from arecanut was used by those families.

He said that not only in Japan but arecanut dye could have been in use in India many years ago. Researchers could throw more light on its ancientness.

He said that at least 50 persons/institutes worldwide have so far worked on using dye extracted from arecanut.

Mr. Padre, a crusader of rainwater harvesting, said that chemical dyes polluted many water sources. Now people are enthusiastic to know more on the use of natural dyes and on the use of products made using natural dyes.

Udupi saris, naturally dyed after processing leaf of wild almond tree and also processing the root of ‘manjistha’ (Indian Madder), which is a climbing or scrambling herb, were launched on the occasion.