#mahavar

[kaalbela]

Suchona Hasnat

[kaalbela]

Alta (Bengali: আলতা) (Odia: ଅଳତା), alah or mahavar is a red dye that is applied to the hands and feet of women, found predominantly in Bangladesh and eastern India. It is applied with a cotton swab or brush to the hands and feet during marriage ceremonies and festivals. Traditional Alta consists of painting the soles with the red liquid dye and then adorning its upper foot with an elaborate design which brings out the beauty of the feet.

Traditionally, Alta was made from the betel leaves. Later on, it was replaced with other artificial dyes like Kumkum or vermillion (Sindoor). These days, alta is considered by many as a more temporary and feasable alternative to Mehendi, as Alta usually washes off in a single day, unlike Mehendi which stays a week.

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