In vogue

Aug. 10: Raksha Bandhan is just a few days away and it’s a busy time for mehendi artists, etching innovative designs on the palms of women.

From being an essentially Indian tradition, the art of applying mehendi has graduated to being a fashion statement.

With the advent of the festive season, women of all age groups seek appointments with professional mehendi artists and beauty parlours to get their hands decorated.

“Applying mehendi on all auspicious occasions like Raksha Bandhan, Diwali and Karva Chauth is in tradition, which is more than 100 years old. Traditionally women of the household get together to apply mehendi on each other’s hands. But these days mehendi designs have become a fashion statement for many and most of the young women now go to beauty parlours or professional mehendi artists,” Sunita Gupta, a resident of Kedar Road, who is from Marwari community, said.

In the run-up to Raksha Bandhan, the mehendi artists are in huge demand and do brisk business.

“During this time of the year, we get a lot of customers,” Ajay Singh, a mehendi artist of Fancy Bazar, said.

“We are completely tied down by appointments for the next couple of days. We charge Rs 150 for a simple design on one palm and up to Rs 1,000 for applying mehendi on both palms considering the intricacy of the design,” he said.

“Many customers have already taken appointments for Raksha Bandhan and we expect more business before Id. We have catalogues from which one can pick the design of her choice. While a simple pattern can cost Rs 100 per palm, the rate goes up to Rs 1,000 for both palms. We get mehendi from Rajasthan, which is not only pure but the colour is also long-lasting,” Rahul Singh, a mehendi artist at Big Bazaar, said.

Innovative forms of easy-to-apply mehendi in golden and silver hues available in markets have failed to dim the popularity of the good-old natural Rajasthani mehendi.

“Applying stone-studded glitter hand mehendi stickers may be hassle free, but they fade away after a few washes. However, the traditional mehendi paste lasts for a few days,” Bhanu Sharma, a beautician said.

Nevertheless, these artists said these rates were much lower than the bridal mehendi packages.

“The bridal mehendi packages start from Rs 2,100 and can go up to Rs 11,000 for elaborate application of mehendi on both hands and legs of a bride. Other family members can also avail our services by paying extra,” Sharma said.

Discounts are also offered at beauty parlours.

“Since Raksha Bandhan is a traditional event, we offer discounts to our customers,” Sharma said.

For many customers, applying mehendi is part of their tradition.

“According to the Hindu custom, mehendi is part of the 16 bandhans,” Khubi Agarwal, a schoolteacher, said.