Hindi Traditional

Indian philosophy saw the cultivation of physical beauty as a positive ideal connected with inner beauty. The adornment of the Ideal Beauty in Hindi tradition has spiritual significance in the culture. The woman is adorned with sixteen ornaments (solah shringa), the number sixteen being significant as the "perfect age" and also the number of phases of the moon.

The Bindi is painted at the centre of the forhead, representing the third eye. Sindoor is red powder placed in the parting of the hair of married women. The red colour symbolises fertility and commitment to her husband.

The tika is a chain with a hook on one end and a pendant in the other. It symbolises her union with her husband.

Khol is used on the eyes and eyelashes, while a nose ring is worn. A necklace is worn, and flower earrings that symbolise the cycles of nature, the god Kama, and femininity.

Mehndi, or henna is applied on a bride's hands as a non-permanent tatoo. It is also used at other auspicious occasions by married women. It is a symbol of satisfaction and happiness.

Bangles on the wrists and armbands also associated with marriage. The Indian aesthetic considers adornment to define beauty. The arsi, a thumb ring with a mirror, brings special delight for this reason, and is worn particularly by married women.

Hair is oiled, ornamented, and decorated with flowers. Dividing the hair into three to form a braid is considered auspicious, as the three strands represent the rivers Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati, or Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva, or her father's house, in-laws' house and herself.

The kamarband is a band worn around the waist, passed down from mother to daughter. The tradition of many of these 16 ornaments goes back centuries or millenia, and the kamarband has been used continously from the at least the time of the Indus Valley civilization up to the modern day.

The foot is both the human pedestal in contact with the mother Earth and the humblest and most impure part of the body in Indian culture. Lovers would often be portrayed as falling at women's feet to show their respect. Adornment of the feet is therefore important, with the anklet (payal) and toe rings. Gold should not be used because it symbolises Lakshmi, the Godess of wealth.

Perfume is used discreetly and reflects the woman's character, and qualities of the seasons.

The Indian ideal of beauty has traditionally been voluptuous with a focus on the belly and hips.