Henna or Mehendi is one of the sixteen beautifying tactics or 'solah shringaars' employed by women to look their gorgeous best. It is also one of the rituals associated with the most important fast of the year - Karwa Chauth.
With Karwa Chauth round the corner, the mehendiwaalis are flooded with clients' calls. The demands of the season are reflected in the rates being charged - The normal charges of INR 50 per hand have been doubled to INR 100 per hand and can cost as much as INR 7000 for newly-wed brides celebrating their first Karwa Chauth.
With the art gaining popularity not just in India, but also abroad and finding favour with International brides like Liz Hurley, applying henna is no longer as simple as it used to be. In olden days mehendi was created from the mehendi or henna leaves, but now different materials like nail polishes, inks and even sketch pens being used to apply mehendi. Designs that traditionally included peacock and kairi motifs have now given way to tattoo mehendi, zardozi mehendi and crystal mehendi.
Shaaditimes meets up with Veena Nagda - undoubtedly the most coveted of all mehendi artists in the country today. Veena has the distinction of applying mehendi to Bollywood A-listers like Karisma and Kareena, Kajol, Hrithik, Rani, Sridevi and even the illustrious Liz Hurley!
This Karwa Chauth, as you get ready to henna your hands and feet, check out pictures of Celebrity mehendi designs and take your pick. |
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