Brides such as Sonakshi Sinha and Aditi Rao Hydari opting for a bridal alta rather than a bridal mehendi, one can only sit and wonder about the reason for the same.
While recent celebrity brides including Patralekha Paul, Sonakshi Sinha and Aditi Rao Hydari have opted for adorning the bridal alta on their hands for their wedding day, the traditional dye has also been having its fashion moment.
Recently the fashionista of Bollywood, Sonam Kapoor applied alta on her hands to compliment her crushed silk lehenga from the shelves of Abu Jani Sandeep Khosla for the Ambani Ganesh Utsav.
In 2023, world-renowned designer Sabyasachi Mukherjee made a breathtaking case for bridal alta while promoting his ‘Heritage 2023’ collection to highlight the timelessness, cultural and traditional significance of the bright red dye.
The word Alta has been derived from the Sanskrit word, ‘Alaktaka’ meaning ‘red juice’. Also known as Mahavar or Lakshaya Rasa
Although primarily used in the regions of Bengal, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, bridal alta is now popular all over the sub-continent and even beyond.
One of the reasons why brides should definitely opt for applying the bridal alta is due to its quick drying time. It has a light-weight texture due to less water addition and has less moisture.