Heritage India - Alangaram

Heritage India Alangaram

Traditional beauty treatments have been handed down by word of mouth and practice down the generations in India. Quite a few of the methods and prctices followed by our elders had a very scientific and rational base with a major usage of items that we use everyday in the kitchen, (like milk, turmeric, curd, gram flours, etc..), leaves, flowers, fruits, seeds & the bark and roots from plants (like hibiscus leaves & flowers, henna leaves, baadaam, etc.) All of these items were widely used to beautify but also to maintain and condition the body.

Each of the beauty aids has the required moderating effect. Today, the use of natural items in food, beauty treatment, medicine is gathering momentum with a lot of herbal products in the market. 

Mehndi:

Henna or Maruthani as it is known in Tamil is derived from a plant. The leaves of the plant have been used in India traditionally during auspicious occasions.

The leaves from the tree were plucked and ground into a thick paste, which was applied in geometric designs on the palm & sole, before retiring for the night & is allowed to dry overnight. The following morning when the dried portion is washed off, a red pigmentation is left behind on the applied area. This style was mostly prevalent in South India, where more often a circular patch is applied in the centre of the palm & a cap is formed over the fingers. This style of decoration is also followed by dancers.  

 In the North, the habit of creating exquisite & intricate designs on the palm as well as the forearm has been in practice. In this case a dry powder form of henna is used. Mehndi is so popular & auspicious in the North, that during weddings a special function is celebrated exclusively for applying henna to the bride.   

The mehndi powder has to be made into a fine paste with a few drops of fresh lime juice. A cone or thin stick is used to apply the intricate designs. Syrup of fresh lime juice mixed with sugar is periodically applied in the semi dry stages, to prevent flaking. When the surface is wiped clean after 5-6 hours, a red pigmentation is left behind.   Henna is a proven coolant for the system & is used for medicinal purposes too. It is also used to dye the hair.

Kolam:

Kolam designs have been tradionally handed down to the younger generation by the elders.  Today, several organisations and magazines conduct kolam exhibitions & contests to revive the interest in traditional habits & customs.  There are enthusiasts who create fresh new designs, but kolams are basically redrawn by the public following the designs taught by elders or printed in books & magazines.

Indian Heritage - Alangaram