I USED to love those days when I woke up to the sound of pestle grinding and the sweet smell of henna leaves in the afternoon. Sleep would evade me from the excitement knowing that very soon mother would apply mehendi on her palm and even I would be given a small share.

What would follow is the sleepy afternoon with my mehendi laden hands outstretched in front of the fan and delight on washing the henna off late in night. While my father did not approve of the thing, my mother understood my sheer pleasure when I would see colour as rich as cocoa powder emerging on my hands. It was like magic of God.

Although I do not have the same feeling anymore and know much more about mehendi and even allowed to apply it, the childhood wonder is lost. Mehendi like everything else has changed a lot from its yesteryears course charm. It evolved from leaves to processed powder where a person just needs to make a mix and then apply it on the palm to various types of mehendi, from dark to less dark. The latest in the list is tattoo mehendi where one just has to apply a sticker on the palm and it sticks. Just open, press and rip off.

The forms might have changed but not the importance. Mehendi is still one of the most important signs of marriage in India. Whenever there is any festival women are sure to apply mehendi. Tomorrow is Karva Chauth and if a person wants to get see how important mehendi is, then one should visit all the markets of Gurgaon. Many small vendors sit with their mehendi cones and women and girls would be seen applying henna on their hands.

Mehendi experts are booming in business as they charge highly for applying mehendi, which is slowly becoming a specialised job in many regions. They have also opened mehendi parlour in various places and their clients are people who are getting married or attending a wedding and the likes.
 
Mehendi is also a style statement. If one notices many women sport capris, a halter top and full hand of mehendi. This look is really in style in all the major cities of India. This is the precise reason why every Indian girl, traditional or modern cannot do away with this ritual or mehendi.

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