Sola Singhar

Sola Singhar is referred to make-up?

Can anyone tell me the origin of the term and 16 steps /acts of Singhar?

Re: Sola Singhar

It is evolved from sanskrit word shringar/shrungar.....
It has same meaning as singhar

Re: Sola Singhar

But why 16 singhar, why not 12 singhar?

Re: Sola Singhar

I think it traditionally always refered to the 16 items of decoration for a bride hence, it was called sola singhar.

Re: Sola Singhar

Exactly and I'm also looking for those 16 items.

Re: Sola Singhar

I dont know why they choose sixteen…:hehe:

But i think Jinx’s explanation makes sense…

Re: Sola Singhar

r u sure this sola mean sixteen… kuch aur b to ho sakta hai na :hypo:

Re: Sola Singhar

Lets invite PK & DA in this thread. She might know that :hehe:

LP se koi umeed nahi :halo:

Re: Sola Singhar

This is what Mr. Google tells us:

Apparently, the 16 steps for beautifying a woman was done to prepare a young girl/woman for her wedding day.
1) Merdana

Here the bride’s body was messaged with perfumed oils- 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, mixed with rose petals and mixed with khus or marwah during the summer season. The paste of lodhra, bawchi, sitachini etc was used instead of soap.

**3) Keshpash sugandhi karanam
**
The paste of Shikekai, nagarmoth,kachura was applied on well-oiled hair.It was kept for minutes. Then washed off with aritha. This served both purposes shampooing as well as conditioning of hair.

**4) Angraag wilepana
**
A thin paste of sandalwood was applied evenly on face, neck, bare shoulders etc.(just like foundation creame 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 sunrays like that of umbrella, so I think applying kohl was customary.

**6) Tilak prasadhana
**
Bindi or Mangalya chinha was made on the forehead. Different coloured Bindis were made from the 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), folded in the wave like manner and the both typesof (i.e. high n low )bun.
**
9) Alakta niveshen

This literally means applying lipstick. During those days herbal lipsticks were prepared using beeswax mixed with the 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
**
Then the wedding dress was put on the bride, generally a bright coloured silken robe with gold border was used.
**
13) Pushpa dharanam

The colourful, pretty and the sweet smelling flower garlands or gajjraas were worn on the hair, around the neck, as a armlet or around the wrist. Then the body was perfumed mildly.

**14) Alankaar dharnam
**
The bride was given various ornaments to look stunning. The most popular ornaments were mekahla or the chain worn around the waist, anklets, armlets, diferent types of chokers and also various sets of the very heavy bangles.Those ornaments were made up of precious metals like gold and silver,ivory,shells,beads and the precious-semiprecious stones.

**15) Tambul sevnam
**
Tambulam or opum or paan was chewed .It served as mouth freshener.

16) Darpan vilokan (and then shubha drishti)

The bride used take a good look at herself in the mirror.Her make up used to be checked and rechecked.Some fine touches were given agan.

When the well groomed beautiful bride was taken to the vivah mandap, then the custom of the first eye contact of the bride and the groom with each other, known as “Shubha-drishti” used to take place.

Source ~ Sulekha.com (Solah singar–16 ways of beautifying body : kalpita raj blogs on sulekha, Wo-men blogs, kalpita raj blog from india)

Re: Sola Singhar

Koi haal nahi :nahi:

Re: Sola Singhar

haha.. apki umeed per pani k saath sath jharoo bhi phair diya.. lol.. m far from these girly stuff :@:

Re: Sola Singhar

:bummer: I forgot your wrestling and fighting interests

Re: Sola Singhar

I think what sehrysh posted makes more sense

Re: Sola Singhar

:@: abhi ap ko gift dena pary ga :sannan: ub yaad rahy ga na:@:

Re: Sola Singhar

:omg: THis reminds me my Ammi’s words : ye aajkal ki nigoRi laRkiyon ki chonchle hain… hamare zamane main to dulhan k balon main tail laga kar kas kar choti bandhte the… ziada huwa to thoRa sa talcum powder munh pe laga liya aur dulhan tayyar’.

Re: Sola Singhar

there was a thread on sola singhaar b4...:)

Re: Sola Singhar

BTW what was that Bichuwa? Paapi Bichuwa wala gana yaad aa gaya.

Re: Sola Singhar

There is a section on sola singhar :snooty:

Re: Sola Singhar

Wow never thought about this in detail :hmmm:

Re: Sola Singhar

You thought :hmmm: