Mehendi artists in great demand during festivals

Mehendi artists in great demand during festivals

For Karva Chauth, mehendi artists in the city are going to have their hands full. Women apply heena on their hands to complete look their best for this occasion. At Karva Chauth parties, mehendi artists are called to make intricate designs on palms of the women, who decide to keep the fast. Women follow the concept of sola sringar — the sixteen items women must use to deck up — on the day. Mehendi is one such item. The artists in the city say that a week prior to Karva Chauth, women start booking them for their services. Rajni Sighal along with her friends have organised a party. One highlight will be the mehendi artist. She said, “My friends and I have been organising Karva Chauth parties for seven years now. The party features a DJ and mehendi artists. Women love putting applying mehendi as it completes their look. It is believed that your husband loves you as dark as the colour of your mehendi turns out after it peels off.” Sejal Shah, has been a mehendi artist for the last 15 years. She said, “Thanekars prefer Indian patterns more than the Arabic ones. These Indian patterns takes a longer time and the designs have smaller elements. Women want to cover every inch of their palm with heena.” She says that the demand for tattoo mehendi is less as it does not last for a long time. Indo-Arabic mehendi is popular. Ashwin Shambharkar, says that a lot of women come to her shop to apply mehendi. “Women are fond of intricate designs which takes a long time to apply.” Artists say that youngsters apply heena till their elbows. Some even put them on their feet. Manya Sharma, 30, an interior designer by profession, says that her mother-in-law was the one who explained to her that besides fasting, it is important to dress up. Kajal V Bhavsar, another artist from the city says, “As the marriage season began recently, we have been working a lot.”