Despite the Covid-19 impact in the city, several women got Mehendi designs on their hands in various Mehendi stalls for the occasion of Karwa Chauth to be observed on Wednesday. Several local Mehendi artists stated that their business did well due to Karwa Chauth but it was still less than the last year. Some stated that many customers preferred home visits rather than visiting their stalls while others informed that many women applied henna designs on their own this time.
According to Sanju Singh who had a Mehendi stall set up near Dispensary Road especially for Karwa Chauth, many married women used to bring their young daughters too for the henna designs on hands but this time, there was hardly a kid who came to his stall with parents. “Some of the women were even asking us to apply the designs which could be applied faster on their hands. They did not want to stay for too long as some complex designs might take 30 to 40 minutes too. The business was of course less than last year but it was better than it was during Teej,” said Singh. Some also stated that many customers insisted that the artists must wear gloves while applying Mehendi. “Four women turned back from my stall just because I said I cannot wear gloves while applying Mehendi on their hands. It is not that I do not take precautions in public places. I was wearing a mask and using sanitisers to sanitise my hands as well as customer’s before applying the Mehendi but it is quite difficult to apply it and make designs wearing gloves. Making designs needs precision and it is not possible with gloves on,” stated another Mehendi artist Shahanawaz Alam. He further informed that he earned about Rs 1,300 during Teej festival whereas he earned more than Rs 12,000 ahead of Karwa Chauth. Farheen Bano who mostly goes for home visits informed that many of her last year’s customers asked her to send simple designs so that they can apply Mehendi on their own. “I used to visit at least 25 to 30 women every year for Karwa Chauth but this year, I just visited 10 customers as many are avoiding calling others to their homes. Some of these customers did not even allow their kids to get henna on their hands. I think some people are overprotective of their kids due to Covid,” added Bano. Meanwhile, the local Mehendi artists also informed that the situation is getting better in Dehradun as they are getting calls for wedding functions and some of them are even booked till December.
OPS demand- women to use Mehendi protest
In an attempt to draw the attention of the government towards their demand for restoration of old pension for the employees registered under New Pension Scheme (NPS), the women employees would put mehendi designs with the demand on their palms on the occasion of Karwa Chauth. On Tuesday an online convention of the women wing of the federation of old pension restoration was held in which this decision was taken. The vice president of the women wing of the federation Yogita Tiwari said that the pension is the right of employees and the women would play an important role in restoration of the old pension scheme. She said that the demand for the old pension is justified and the government should take it seriously.
Wednesday, 04 November 2020 | PNS | Dehradun
