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{{short description|Red dye which women in Indian subcontinent apply on their hands and feet during weddings and festivals}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2019}}
[[File:Hand_of_Bride.jpg|alt=A Bengali Muslim Bride's hand on her Gaye Holud, Bangladesh|thumb|220x220px|A [[Bengali Muslim]] bride's hand adorned with alta on her [[Gaye holud|Gaye Holud]], in [[Bangladesh]]]]

'''Alta''' ({{lang-bn|আলতা }}) ({{lang-od|ଅଳତା }}), '''alah''' or '''mahavar''' is a red dye that is applied to the hands and feet of women, mainly in the [[Indian subcontinent]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=আলতা {{!}} কালের কণ্ঠ|url=https://www.kalerkantho.com/print-edition/education/2019/11/07/836116|access-date=2020-10-17|website=Kalerkantho|language=bn}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=বাংলাদেশ|first=Daily Bangladesh :: ডেইলি|title=আলতা রাঙা পা|url=https://www.daily-bangladesh.com/lifestyle/51917|access-date=2020-10-17|website=Daily Bangladesh|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2017-12-03|title=আলতা রাঙা পদ যুগল!|url=https://www.shajgoj.com/7-steps-to-apply-alta/|access-date=2020-10-17|website=Shajgoj|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=প্রামাণিক|first=কল্লোল|title=পায়ে আলতা পরিয়ে শুভলগ্ন রাঙিয়ে তোলেন তিনি|url=https://www.anandabazar.com/district/nadia-murshidabad/they-remembers-him-at-the-time-of-marriage-1.845378|access-date=2020-10-17|website=anandabazar.com|language=bn}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Bengali Hindu Wedding - Rituals, Customs, Dress, Food|url=https://www.culturalindia.net/weddings/regional-weddings/bengali-wedding.html|access-date=2020-10-17|website=www.culturalindia.net|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Newari girls participate in mass Bel Bibaha [with photos]|url=https://kathmandupost.com/visual-stories/2017/02/26/newari-girls-participate-in-mass-bel-bibaha|access-date=2020-10-17|website=kathmandupost.com|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Shrestha|first=Shreeya|date=November 2017|title=An Elaborate Ritual called Marriage|url=http://ecs.com.np/festival/an-elaborate-ritual-called-marriage|access-date=2020-10-17|website=ECS NEPAL|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Guha|first=Sanjana|date=1 April 2019|title=Learn How Bengali Mehndi Blends Simplicity, Authenticity and Ethnicity on the Wedding Day|url=https://www.weddingwire.in/wedding-tips/bengali-mehndi--c3407|access-date=2020-10-17|website=WeddingWire.in|language=en-IN}}</ref> It is applied with a cotton swab or brush to the hands and feet during marriage ceremonies and festivals.

Alta is originally produced from lac, although today it is mainly replaced with synthetic dyes.<ref>{{Cite web|title=আলতা {{!}} কালের কণ্ঠ|url=https://www.kalerkantho.com/print-edition/education/2019/11/07/836116|access-date=2020-10-17|website=Kalerkantho|language=bn}}</ref>

== Cultural significance ==
=== Bengali culture ===
Alta has great cultural significance in [[Bengali culture]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=আলতা {{!}} কালের কণ্ঠ|url=https://www.kalerkantho.com/print-edition/education/2019/11/07/836116|access-date=2020-09-29|website=Kalerkantho|language=bn}}</ref><ref>https://www.shajgoj.com/7-steps-to-apply-alta/</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=বাংলাদেশ|first=Daily Bangladesh :: ডেইলি|title=আলতা রাঙা পা|url=https://daily-bangladesh.com/lifestyle/51917|access-date=2020-10-15|website=Daily Bangladesh|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=প্রামাণিক|first=কল্লোল|title=পায়ে আলতা পরিয়ে শুভলগ্ন রাঙিয়ে তোলেন তিনি|url=https://www.anandabazar.com/district/nadia-murshidabad/they-remembers-him-at-the-time-of-marriage-1.845378|access-date=2020-10-16|website=anandabazar.com|language=bn}}</ref> Regardless of religious beliefs, [[Bengalis|Bengali]] women in [[Bangladesh]] and Indian States of West Bengal traditionally adorn their hands and feet with alta for marriage<ref>https://www.e-barta247.com/archive/details?n=5507</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=Learn How Bengali Mehndi Blends Simplicity, Authenticity and Ethnicity on the Wedding Day|url=https://www.weddingwire.in/wedding-tips/bengali-mehndi--c3407|access-date=2020-10-16|website=www.weddingwire.in|language=en-IN}}</ref> and cultural festivals like [[Pahela Baishakh]], [[Pahela Falgun]] and others.<ref>{{Cite web|title=আলতা রাঙা বৈশাখ :: দৈনিক ইত্তেফাক|url=https://archive.ittefaq.com.bd/index.php?ref=MjBfMDRfMDhfMTRfNF8xNF8xXzEyMTUyNA==|access-date=2020-12-30|website=archive.ittefaq.com.bd|language=bn}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=আলতা পরা পায়ে|url=https://m.newsg24.com/lifestyle/fashion/544/%C3%A0%C2%A6%C2%86%C3%A0%C2%A6%C2%B2%C3%A0%C2%A6%C2%A4%C3%A0%C2%A6%C2%BE%20%C3%A0%C2%A6%C2%AA%C3%A0%C2%A6%C2%B0%C3%A0%C2%A6%C2%BE%20%C3%A0%C2%A6%C2%AA%C3%A0%C2%A6%C2%BE%C3%A0%C2%A7%C2%9F%C3%A0%C2%A7%C2%87|access-date=2020-12-30|website=m.newsg24.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=বৈশাখী উন্মাদনার ঢেউ শাবিতে|url=https://m.banglanews24.com/cat/news/bd/384643.details|access-date=2020-12-30|website=banglanews24.com|language=bn}}</ref> Wearing Alta on [[Durga Puja|Durga Pooja]] is a common ritual for Bengali womenfolk.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2016-11-17|title=Alta Dye: Bright Red Liquid Color Used to Adorn Palms and Feet|url=https://www.utsavpedia.com/cultural-connections/alta/|access-date=2021-05-25|website=Utsavpedia|language=en-US}}</ref>

=== Odissi culture ===
Alta is also significant in Odisha. It can be commonly seen worn by [[Odissi]] classical dancers on hands and feet while performing. It is especially prevalent during [[Raja (festival)|Raja]] or Mithun Sanakranti, which is a three-day festival celebrating womanhood (menstruation).<ref>{{Cite web|title=Odisha Tourism : Raja, A Festival Of Fun, Frolic and Mouthwatering Delicacies|url=https://odishatourism.gov.in/content/tourism/en/blog-details.html?url=raja-a-festival-of-fun-frolic-and-mouthwatering-delicacies|access-date=2021-05-25|website=odishatourism.gov.in|language=en}}</ref> During this festival, as a part of the ritual, women apply alta on their feet symbolising fertility and auspiciousness. Alta and turmeric is also applied during marriages in [[Odia people|Odia]] culture.

==See also==
* [[Henna]]
* [[Kumkum]]
* [[Sindoor]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Indian wedding}}
{{Worship in Hinduism}}

[[Category:Indian culture]]
[[Category:Indian wedding traditions]]
[[Category:Bangladeshi culture]]
[[Category:Bangladeshi wedding traditions]]
[[Category:Festivals of Bangladeshi culture]]
[[Category:Bengali culture]]
[[Category:Festivals in India]]

Alta (dye) - Revision history

103.248.236.98: need to relocate picture