Devadasi Culture – Decoding Beauty Rituals

The Devadasis approached beauty rituals as an expression and experience of self-care. They had elaborate rituals for beautification of the skin, hair and body with handmade tonics and indulgent recipes. The significance of these age-old rituals was not only towards developing an outwardly attractive personality but also to achieve good health and happiness. These rituals have been adopted by generations that followed and are still celebrated as an inspiration for modern day skincare and beauty.

Read on as we decode the indispensable beauty rituals of the women of substance – the Devadasis or Courtesans of India.

Indulgent Bath Rituals

The Devadasis often found comfort in self-formulated creams, masks and other emollients, which were mixtures of fresh Ayurvedic herbs and flowers. The Vedas also focused on the significance of touch as an essential experience of life. The tradition of Abhyanga – a full body massage with oil, which began in India over 2000 years ago – was considered as a powerful, multi-dimensional experience with benefits for both health and beauty. May we suggest the Forest Essentials Body Massage Oils that are enriched with a blend of 100% fresh and potent herbs to nourish and tone the skin.

The Devadasis would prepare elaborate bath rituals using effective home-made masks or Lepas, in special silver vessels to hold artisanal oils for the face, body and hair. Inspired by these rituals are the Forest Essentials face and body Ubtans that are crafted using sun dried and hand pounded fresh herbs, seeds, nuts and seasonal fruits. These purifying Ubtans multitask as cleansers, exfoliators and masks to reveal rejuvenated and polished skin. May we suggest the Forest Essentials Silkening Shower Washes, that are sulphate free cleansers with natural ingredients, to complete your ritual. We also suggest you seal in the moisture with the Forest Essentials After Bath Oils to leave the skin silky and smooth.

Elaborate Hair Care Rituals

The most painstaking task for the Devadasis was the hair wash. Their hair care ritual started with oiling of the hair, which used to take place a night before the hair wash, with a renowned recipe that included the use of Amla Oil, made by extracting the juice of the Amla fruit and boiling it with pure Coconut Oil. This oil was then rubbed onto the scalp with a gentle massage and was left to soak. With its monumental power, pleasure and purpose, this traditional oil massage has always been an indispensable practice for beauty and health. Inspired by these renowned oils of ancient beauty rituals are the Forest Essentials Head Massage Oils, which use the finest quality of Ayurvedic herbs to promote healthy and nourished hair.

These women also used self-formulated hair masks that included a thick herbal paste made from various roots and herbs. The Devadasis washed this mask off with herbal waters made from the boiled barks of forty different trees. The hair was gently dried with a soft muslin towel and spread over a Karandi – a soft iron pot with herbs sprinkled over burning coals. The hair was, then, slowly dried over the smoke of this pot, leaving it fragrant and soft. For such an indulgent ritual of your own, try the Forest Essentials Intensive Hair Repair Masque Japapatti & Brahmi, followed by the Japapatti & Brahmi Hair Cleanser and Conditioner, enriched with potent herbal extracts to rejuvenate the scalp and deeply nourish the hair. Similar to their ritual, we suggest drying your hair using a soft cotton or muslin cloth to avoid frizzy hair.

Ancient Makeup Techniques

In ancient times, women used juices and fresh extracts of juicy fruits and flowers to achieve a naturally flushed look. They used soot from the earthen Diyas to enhance the shape of their eyes and would often use extracts of natural and freshly cut Beetroot to tint their lips and cheeks. They would also indulge in chewing beetle leaves that would leave a beautiful red tint, to further enhance the redness of their lips. The Forest Essentials Gulaab Khaas Kajals and Madhu Rasa Tinted Lip Serums are inspired from reintroducing these age old rituals and are deeply enriched with natural ingredients that enhance the lips and the eyes while also restoring their natural beauty.

Visit www.forestessentialsindia.com or your nearest Forest Essentials store to explore more such authentic Ayurvedic formulations, inspired by the indulgent rituals of the Devadasis.