NEW DELHI: Arabian style mehandi designs and temporary tattoos created with kajal and nail polish besides a range of stylish bangles are among popular trends seen sported by women and girls this festival season of Teej.
"Women like the Arabian mehandi designs and this has been the in trend design for this Teej festival. The colour is good and looks thicker than the traditional Rajasthani style," says Rajeshwari, a mehandi applier who is participating in the Teej Festival at Dilli Haat here.
Mehandi or henna in the Arabic design is available in two colours, red and black in which the latter is used for outlining patterns.
"When applying mehandi, the Rajasthani design are thinner and the Arabian design is available in two colours-black and red. Black colour is used for outline. Leaves are common in the Arabian style," says Shama, from Old Delhi who has been a regular at the festival organised by Delhi Tourism.
Prices charged for the application of mehandi begin from Rs 50 and goes up to Rs 1000, depending on the design. Cones that can be filled with henna are also available for those who want to try the do it yourself style.
Temporary tattoos, a modern day innovation is seen to be highly loved among the women and young people with many taking to sporting them on the wrist and near the elbows.
"Women generally want to get their names or the name of their loves ones printed on their hand. These tattoos are temporary and remain for three to four days if you do not wash them. These are generally made of Kaajal and nail polish and are not harmful for the skin," says Priyanka, who has put up a stall of unique bangles and tattoos at Dilli Haat.
Colourful bangles made of glass, laakh, gems like ruby, emerald etc are popular among women. New varieties like Panchkada, Ponchi, Ginni waale Kade, Kangan etc are being introduced for the festival season.
"We have got new varieties like Panchkada, which can be worn alone with a few glass bangles. We also have ponchi, Ginni Waale Kade, Kangan and stone bangles of different designs which we have made especially for this festival," says Nazima, another regular at the Dilli Haat's Teej festival.
The bangles were all handmade and started from the range of Rs 100.
Another hawker Mohammad Yamin, from Sangam Vihar, has brought along a wide range of glass bangles, colours of which he claims are made by him and claiming that the colours of these would not fade.
"Unlike other glass bangles, these bangles do not have a mark of intersection. The colours of these would not fade and I have been making these bangles from the past 60 years," says Yamin, a hawker who claims to have made bangles for the US
First Lady Michelle Obama during her India visit in 2010.
A festival of feasts and celebrations, Teej marks the welcome of the monsoon season during the month of 'Shravan' or 'Saawan' according to the Hindu calendar. The festival is primarily dedicated to Goddess Parvati and her union with Lord Shiva and is widely celebrated by married women in North India especially in Rajasthan.
The main attraction of the festival is the traditional 'Teej Jhula' or swing, which is generally hung from trees in villages and towns drawing a swarm of women.
At Dilli Haat organisers have put up a traditional jhula to attract visitors.
Traditional lehangas, phulkari and ghaghras are also available at the venue with bracelets, rings and jewellery sets.
While traditional food like Dal Baati churma and other delicacies were seen being served at the food stall, Haldirams has come up with different types of 'Ghewar', including Kiwi Ghewar, Mango Ghewar, Pineapple ghewar and rabdi ghewar all being sold at Rs 70 per piece, especially on the occasion of Teej.
"We have introduced four new varieties of Ghewar this time on the occasion of Teej.These include mango, kiwi, pineapple and Rabdi Ghewar. The innovations are made based on the suggestions and feedback of the customers," says Manager of Haldirams, Lajpat Nagar.
"Apart from these new varieties, we have the older ones which include Malai Ghewar and Kaju cream ghewar made of crushed cashew and cream," he added.
A team of Nagada and Jhaanj players from Haryana's Palwar district have been specially invited to play to add to the festive mood.