Magic of mehendi

THE MARRIAGE season also brings into focus the many things a bride needs to do. Taking precedence over everything else are clothes, accessories, beauty care products and (of course) mehendi, which occupies a place of pride in every woman's heart. From being an ingredient that helps enrich hair to becoming a significant part of a girl's marriage celebrations, mehendi has evolved into a must-have product.

The once popular big and small dots and swastiks - that added charm to a bride's hands have now given way to delicate patterns and attractive designs. Mehendi not only makes a powerful fashion statement but also serves as a marketing tool for the promotion of some products.

Ramana, in-charge of Chandana Brothers clothes showroom in General Bazar, says, "we offer free mehendi sessions for our women customers during our aashadham (the season where applying mehendi is obligatory for women) sale and during the marriage season. And, this is a free service. While the aashadham sale is on for about 100 days, the marriage season will span two months' time."

Clothes stores are not the only ones venturing into the business of wooing customers with mehendi, others too are following suit. Devaki Kondaveti of `La Belle Femme' at the Country Club, says, "An electronic goods showroom in the city which is opening a new branch approached us to apply mehendi to their customers for about a month. I guess, it is a promotion for them and us as well."

A free mehendi counter was organised as a promotional scheme recently at Big Bazaar, M.P.M. Mall, Abids, as part of their `Women's Mela' where a whole range of women's products were on a huge discount.

Says Chetna Parekh of Chic beauty clinic in Amrutha Mall, Somajiguda. "The concept of beauty itself has undergone a sea change. Mehendi is just following suit and is undergoing a major transformation. Now, even men are going in for mehendi, not as henna but as a design on the hands. Sometimes, the groom and the bride come together and insist on similar designs," she adds.

Mehendi ceased to be just a traditional mould of designing long ago. Today, there are different patterns that come under four main categories, mix-and-match and fusion designs. Arabic, Marwadi, Indian and black outlines are the major and well-known categories.

While Arabic designs comprise a huge leaf and three to four flowers, Marwari designs are thin patterns where the entire hand is filled without a single gap. The other designs comprise kalash, doli, peacocks, mangoes, parrots, etc.

Sporting the name of the spouse as part of the design is the in-thing. Earlier, the bride used to shy away from the practice. But now, she proudly flaunts it.

Mehendi tattoos on certain parts of the body, colour mehendi and glitter mehendi are popular with youngsters. "Faces, sun, scorpions and little floral designs are currently the favourite designs. Girls prefer tattoos on their neck, forearms, upper arms, neck, waist, navel and sides of the shoulders. Youngsters are going in for funkier designs even on their palms," says Devaki.

Rose Day, College Day, Farewell party and Valentine's Day, apart from engagement, marriage and parties are pretexts enough for young girls to go for mehendi.

"We have different packages and catalogues for the grooms and brides, and different styles of designing. And, we take precautions to do it in the most hygienic way. So, allergies and complications are out of question," says Muskan of `La Belle' in Banjara Hills. "Simple designs are in as far as Telugu brides are concerned. This enhances the delicate nature of the bride's hands," says Sarika.

"Black mehendi is very much in. But, we don't use it for the bride. And, the cone should not be too tight or too watery. To avoid allergy, one has to ensure that the mehendi is not old," adds her sister Swapnika. Both the youngsters assist their mother, J.Jamuna, who runs `Vahini Herbal Beauty Clinic' at L.B. Nagar.

The magic of mehendi in all its glory and glitter continues to enthrall. So, next time you are all set for a party, remember that there are many options for you to have the best and flaunt it all.

SHANTI NANISETTI

For more trendy stuff, read the Invasion of Body Art. Want to know what well-known hairstylist and beautician and daughter of renowned Blossom Kochchar, Samantha Kochchar thinks on the latest trends in hairstyle? Also, while talking about trends, find out what's in and what's cool and haute couture according to popular fahion diva Nandita Mahtani.