INDIAN WOMEN WEAR FLOWERS IN THEIR HAIR (GAJRA) FOR A VARIETY OF CULTURAL, RELIGIOUS, AND AESTHETIC REASONS. IN MANY PARTS OF INDIA, WEARING FLOWERS IN THE HAIR IS A TRADITIONAL PRACTICE PASSED DOWN THROUGH GENERATIONS. IT IS SEEN AS A SYMBOL OF FEMININITY AND GRACE.

…AS A YOUNG GIRL, I ADORED READING ROMANCE NOVELS ABOUT PRINCESSES IN FARAWAY CASTLES, AS IM SURE MANY OTHER GIRLS DID TOO, BUT MY PRINCESSES ‘RANI’S’ LIVED IN PALACES, WEARING BEAUTIFUL LEHENGAS AND JEWELS, WITH FRESH FLOWERS IN THEIR HAIR AND MEHENDI ON THEIR HANDS. THEY WERE ALWAYS SURROUNDED BY STUNNING TEXTILES, BLOCK-PRINTED LEHENGAS AND SARIS. THE FACT THAT I GET TO WEAR THESE SAME TYPES OF BEAUTIFUL TEXTILES NOW, IN THE 21ST CENTURY, FEELS LIKE SUCH A PRIVILEGE. WHEN I WEAR MY BLOCK PRINTS, I FEEL LIKE ROYALTY, AND THAT’S EXACTLY HOW I WANT EVERYONE WHO WEARS THEM TO FEEL…