Mehndi brings alive colour, fervour on Karva Chauth

The city is fragrant with the aroma of mehndi with women getting soaked in the festive spirit of Karva Chauth. Mehndi artists, bangle sellers, beauty parlours, mithai-makers, jewellery and garment sellers, all are occupied helping women make their Karva Chauth day special.

Almost every nook and corner in the city has mehndi artists squatting and applying henna on the palms of women. Market and bazaars are lit past midnight and mehndi artists can be seen burning the midnight oil to earn some extra bucks.

Seeing the craze among women to outdo each other, artists have also hiked their charges, some have even flown in from various places like Rajasthan, Gujarat and Mumbai, to make the most of Ludhiana women’s rich taste and endless love for all things stylish.

Making their way through the thick crowd after henna application with its intricate designs, women can be seen trying to keep the freshly applied mehndi on their hands intact.

A number of stalls selling diyas, ‘karvas’ and seives have also come up along the roadsides. For many, such stalls are a way of getting some extra income at this time of the year. Manjit, for instance, who is selling ‘karvas’ at Ghumar Mandi these days, usually sells saag and spinach but added the karva stall for some quick money.

Many women are also applying mehndi at their homes. “There is so much demand for mehndi artists during this time of the year that artists fall short. “A few years back, my neighbours requested me to apply mehndi, and now every year, I do this on Karva Chauth which also helps me earn some money,” said Ruby, a resident of Field Gunj.

Cashing in on the frenzy, city’s beauty salons have also dished out a variety of packages, especially for this day. Saris and fabric shops too are decked out in full splendour, while jewellery and bangles, ubiquitous during Karva Chauth, are much in demand.

Sweet shops are busy selling pheniyan and sweet matthees, considered auspicious for Karwa Chauth. “We have prepared special ‘Sargi’ baskets for the festival and like every year, a lot of excitement is seen around the festival this year as well,” said Shantanu, a sweetmeat seller from Ghumar Mandi.

It will be Taashvi’s first Karva Chauth after marriage and she is leaving no stone unturned to make it special. “I booked my salon services along with the mehndi artist well in advance. New dress and jewellery, I will make sure that my first Karva Chauth is a special one,” she said.

Stalls selling diyas, ‘karvas’ come up along roadsides

• A number of stalls selling diyas, ‘karvas’ and seives have also come up along the roadsides. For many, such stalls are a way of getting some extra income at this time of the year. Manjit, for instance, who is selling ‘karvas’ at Ghumar Mandi these days, usually sells saag and spinach but added the karva stall for some quick money.
• Sweet shops are busy selling pheniyan and sweet matthees, considered auspicious for Karwa Chauth.