Enthusiastic about painting and sketching since her childhood, a self-taught Mehndi artist from Handwara village, Athar Rasool, who has taken the Mehndi designs to the next level by experimenting with latest motifs giving attractive choices to brides.
Athar (22), who hails from Langate village in Handwara of North Kashmir’s Kupwara district is an undergraduate Fine Arts student. She chose Mehndi art as her profession as her family, as well as her friends, suggested her to take up this art as a profession after they noticed this talent in her. “I didn’t visit any art school for learning. I learned it all by myself, this is all by the grace of the Almighty”, says Athar.
Sharing her journey as a Mehandi artist with the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), Athar said that at the age of 12 she developed a level of consciousness in her after seeing a Mehndi artist applying henna on the bride in her neighbors marriage ceremony. It got me access to have first-hand experience of the art. I literally visualized the art grabbing the best possible outcome, she said.
“I always viewed this art through a modern lens that merges the old and new one. I took help from social media platform to understand the basics of the art. It is the best medium to gain excess to the larger audience and the changing patterns of the art”, says Athar.
Athar is running a page on Instagram from where she gets bookings and also shares her work on the page. “I am not working in any shop but from my home as I get bookings through my page and then I go to the bride’s home,” she said.
I always try to serve my clients with the best and satisfying service as Mehndi is something that fascinates everyone and every woman dreams of having the best mehndi memories on her wedding day, said Athar.
“I offer services at affordable prices, as I believe everyone should be able to get these services and make good memories on their wedding day, she said, adding that she does all the occasional mehndi which includes functional mehndi, bridal and non-bridal mehndi”.
Athar credits her success to her family, saying her family is very supportive and broad minded as they always encouraged her. She is also thankful to people especially her friends who directly or indirectly supported her in this journey.
“If you believe in yourself no one is going to stop you. There will be some people who will criticize you and there will also be people who will believe in you. So just focus on your dreams, said Athar, in her message, adding that it gives her immense satisfaction that she’s doing what actually she loves to do—(KNO)