The colour saga continues. It’s Day 6 of the Nine Nights of Dancing, Navratri. Today’s colour is orange. And if you’ve not read the earlier posts on The Colours of Navratri, the links are below. While orange is everything bright and beautiful that India and Indians stand for what’s really worth talking about is the symbolism of orange. Most people know that orange has immense religious significance because most of the monks wear orange but most also don’t know why they wear orange. Orange or Saffron, actually represents the colour of Agni or fire. And fire is sacred because it burns away all the impurities, dispels darkness and gets rid of ignorance. There couldn’t be a better representation of purity than with the colour orange. Orange flags, sometimes triangular, sometime forked, atop the perch of Hindu temples, are representative of this. The flames of orange. In all its representations, the colour orange comes out as the shining symbol of the search for light, the light itself, the quest for knowledge and wisdom. Besides it’s the colour of the setting sun, ripe tangerines, autumn leaves, the evening sky, and of the ubiquitous flower of worship in India – the thickset marigold. Get all of this in one colour – orange. So brighten up today. What better colour to wear, no matter what it means to you. It’s bound to bring with it joy and vibrance and the shining light of knowledge. And remember, Saraswati, the Goddess of Knowledge is watching. Stay blessed. Missed earlier posts on this festival? Get them here –