Re: Sola Singhaar
Solah Singaars--- (16 ways of beautifying body)
Since my childhood I always heard n read that in India during ancient times there existed solah singaars or 16 ways of beauty therapy which bride to be has to undergo before meeting her groom or before meeting him on wedding night what could be those solah singaars I always wondered n my curious mind made me search here n there. Luckily I was able to find I'm presenting them before you--
The solah singaars are as followings---
1)Merdana---
Here the bride's body was messaged with perfumed oil viz.--rose, jasmine, sandal etc.
2)Mangal Snanam---
The bride to be was given bath with purified water mixed with milk or various oils such as almond oil during winter n mixed with rose petals or khus or marwah during summer season. The paste of lodhra, bawchi, sitachini etc was used instead of soap.
3) Keshpash sugandhi karanam---
The paste of Shikekai, nagarmotha n kachura was applied on well-oiled hair kept for minutes then washed off with aritha. This served both purposes shampooing n conditioning of hair.
4)Angraag wilepana---
A thin paste of sandalwood was applied evenly on faces necks bare shoulders etc., just like foundation is applied now a days.
5)kajjal rekha deepan--
Eyes were lined with kohl or kaajal . In ancient India people strongly believed that the kohl protects eyes from harsh sun rays like that of umbrella so I think applying kohl was customary.
6) Tilak prasadhana---
Bindi or Mangalya chinha was made on forehead. Different colored Bindis were made from gorochana, hartal, kusumba etc. Even flower petals also were used to serve this purpose.
7) Mukha prasadhana----
Face was decorated with the help of herbal blusher gold or silver or pearl dust.
Then a beauty spot or small black mark of kohl was made to ward of an evil.
8) Kesha pash rachna---
This word means hairstyling. The main styles used in those days were Kundalakar (oval shaped or elongated role or bun), surpaakruti (snake shaped--may be a French role), wave like and both types i.e. high n low buns etc.
9) Alakta niveshen--
This literally means applying lipstick. During those days herbal lipsticks were prepared using beeswax n kusumba flower's petals.
10) Hasta sushobhitam--
The hands were cleaned and decorated
11) Paad sushobhitam--
The feet were cleaned and lined with Alitah.
12) maha vastra pridhanam--
The wedding dress was put on the bride, generally a bright coloured silken robe with gold border was used.
13) Pushpa dharanam---
The pretty n sweet smelling flower garlands or gajjraas were worn on the hair, around the necks as a armlet or around the wrist. Then body was perfumed mildly.
14) Alankaar dharnam---
The bride was given various ornaments to look stunning. The most popular ornaments were mekahla, anklets, armlets, and chokers n heavy bangles.
15) Tambul sevnam--
Tambulam or opum or paan was chewed .It served as mouth freshener.
16) Darpan vilokan (n then shubha drishti---)
The bride used to take a good look in mirror n checks her make- up n used give fine touches.
Then well groomed beautiful bride was taken to the vivah mandap or pandaal then the first eye contact or eye meet of bride n groom was known as Shubha drishti (auspicious look), this custom still exists in some parts of India (e.g. Bengal) in this modern age.
As the beauty treatment n make-up was done with purest forms of herbs, real gold, conch, silver or pearl powder the brides from the ancient India must be really looking very beautiful n gorgeous.
(courtesy-----Kalpita Rajopadhye)