Indian women have always been encouraged to make the most of their looks with cosmetics and herbs. Even in the vedic times, Sanskrit texts laid down the concept of Sola singaar or the sixteen traditional accoutrements with which every women could adorn herself. These were designed for every part of body, and irrespective of class, many of them can be fashioned out of wood, glass, fresh flowers or precious jewels.

Indian women follow the concept of Sola singaar even today. While it is possible to use some of these decorations every day, modern life and work make others, such as armlets on the upper arm or toe rings, impractical for daily use. Many Indian women, however, even the more westernized ones, dress up in all the sixteen accoutrements for weddings, festivals and other special occasions. The sixteen accoutrements are: bindi, necklaces, earrings, flowers in the hair, bangles, rings, armlets on the upper arm, waistbands, anklets for the feet, kohl, toe rings, henna, perfume, sandalwood paste, the upper garment and the lower garment.

Bindi :The bindi (also known as body dot, body jewel and tikka) has been given different meanings at different times. It has been and is still, seen as a sign of marriage. It has also been associated with fertility, and the red powder used to paint the dot was formerly made of a combination of mercury (considered by early Hindu alchemists to be the seed of the god Shiva, and therefore the male element), and sulphur (the female element).

Necklaces : The beautiful maidens in Indian romantic literature, are often depicted with garlands of fresh and fragrant flowers encircling their swan-like necks. Today garlands are used as necklaces for temple deities and are also presented to special guests or newly-wed couples. Necklaces for daily wear are made of anything from gold to wood or glass.

Earrings : In India the ears of little Hindu baby girls are ritually pierced with great ceremony on the thirteenth day after their birth. A jeweller is invited to the house and the baby's uncle (her mother's brother) holds the infant as the ears are pierced with fine gold wire that is twisted and tied into neat little loops. The family then honors the jeweller with gifts and money for decorating the daughter of the house with gold.

Rings : Long, slender fingers are enhanced with gold and silver rings and many Indian brides wear an ornament made of five rings, one for each finger, with little chains running from each ring to a clasped bracelet at the wrist, Hindus, Muslims and Sikhs do not traditionally wear wedding rings, although it has become fashionable since the 1980s or so to exchange engagement rings.

Armlets : These are wore on the upper arm and the designs vary from region to region. One of the most popular is the snake, known for its divine powers toward off evil and to protect stores of wealth.

Waistbands : A variety of thin belts and waistbands of gold or silver with tiny bells or motifs of gods and goddesses, are used to enhance and draw attention to the delicacy of womanly curves. They are usually worn with a sari which leaves the midriff bare. Broader waistbands with motifs of gods and goddesses are wore with a ghagra of full skirt.

Anklets : Traditionally the woman of the house announces her arrival with the tinkling sound of anklets. These are always made of silver. Indians believe gold to be the metal of the gods and therefore sacred. To wear it on the feet, the lowest part of the body, is considered to be an ill-omen and disrespectful.

Kohl : Black kohl (also known as Kajal) is often made at home by burning a clean cotton wick in castor oil and collecting the residue of the fumes. The inner rim of the lids is then blackened with this.

Toe Rings : Indian women often decorate each toe with a different silver ring with motifs of fish, birds or flowers. In south India toe rings are a symbol of marriage and women wear a heavy ring on the second toe of each foot.

Henna : The great Ayurveda practitioner Charak believed that all herbs were fathered by heaven and mothered by earth, with roots in the primeval cosmic ocean. Henna is perhaps the strongest natural colourant known to us. The dried powder of the leaves is mixed with water and the resulting paste applied to the hands, feet and hair to give a rich mahogany color. Henna is traditionally associated with weddings and festivals, so every Indian bride will have a mehendiwali or henna painting artist draw filigreed patterns on her palms and feet a day before her wedding. It is believed that the darker color it leaves on the palm, more love and affection she will get from her husband.

Perfume : Rose, Jasmine, sandalwood, lemon are all fragrances that are captured into attar or indigenously made perfume. Attar is available at many Indian shops in the west, although the essential oils of various fruits and flowers are more easily found at natural beauty and aroma therapy stores. Attar has to be used sparingly of it can become overwhelming.

Sandalwood Paste : Indian women mix together a pinch of pure sandalwood powder (made from the wood of the sandalwood tree), a pinch of turmeric (which is antiseptic), and water and apply this to their face and neck for a clear skin. Ayurveda has always recognized cooling and polishing properties of sandalwood.

The Upper Garment : About five hundred years ago the lower garment was a cloth held up at the waist with a string or belt. Today it is synonymous with the sari, which is worn in innumerable ways. The most popular is the five-yard sari, an unstitched length of cloth, one end of which is pleated in front and the other end thrown over the left shoulder. Saris are made of silk, cotton or synthetic fabrics and the best ones are woven by hand at various weaving centres all over India.

On this special day of her life, Indian bride becomes the beautiful goddess Lakshmi, who will bring good luck and plenty to her new home and fill it with happiness and harmony.