NEW DELHI: The festival of Karwa Chauth fills Indian women with devotion and excitement, as women and daughters across Bharat dress up and adorn themselves. On this sacred occasion, mehndi holds special significance, symbolising auspiciousness, love, and devotion.
This year, under the joint aegis of the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP), Matri Shakti, and Durga Vahini, a special Mehndi Seva programme has been organised in several parts of the country.
The most distinctive aspect of this initiative is that all the women applying mehndi are themselves serving their suhagan Hindu sisters. The charge for mehndi is only Rs 100 much lower than the market rate.
This effort not only offers women and daughters the joy of traditional adornment at affordable rates but also provides livelihood and financial support to women who depend on mehndi art as their source of income.
The programme aims to empower women who use their skills as a means of livelihood, reinforcing the spirit of seva, swabhimaan (self-respect), and swavalamban (self-reliance).
At the VHP’s Mehndi Seva centres, the banner reads “Humara Tyohar, Humara Vyapar” (Our Festival, Our Business), reflecting the spirit of Hindu employment, self-reliance, and idea that Hindu women should celebrate and serve their own community.
This special Mehndi Seva Abhiyan is being organised across several major cities of the country.
Jodhpur, Rajasthan: In Jodhpur, the VHP, Matri Shakti, Durga Vahini, and Prajapati Kalyan Sansthan jointly organised the Rs 100 Mehndi Seva programme on October 9 and 10.
Ambala, Haryana: In Ambala, along with citizens, Mayor Shailja Sandeep Sachdeva also visited the Mehndi Seva Kendra, honoured the women volunteers, and even applied mehndi herself, embodying the spirit of “Hindu Tan-Man, Hindu Jeevan.”
Camps are organised at Patel Road, Patanjali Arogya Kendra, Shri Ram Mandir (GT Road), Shri Neelkanth Mandir (Sector 7), and Chitrakoot Society on Hari Palace Road.
Mayor Sachdeva said that the VHP has always been committed to protecting Sanatan Dharma and promoting Hindu culture.
The event saw the presence of VHP Seva Pramukh Vijay Narang, District Vice President Ashok Kakkar, Vibhag Sangathan Mantri Vikas Bishnoi, Mohit Ahluwalia, Nagar Vistarak Krishna Joshi, and others.
Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh: In Ghaziabad, VHP has set up more than 15 Mehndi Kendras this year. The VHP office bearers stated that the initiative is part of a state-wide campaign to empower Hindu women and promote traditional skills. According toe a report, around 250 Mehndi Seva Kendras have been established across western Uttar Pradesh districts to operate through October 9–10, 2025.
The VHP’s Mehndi initiative at affordable rates has come as a relief to women seeking quality service. It benefits both customers who receive mehndi at nominal rates, and the women artists who gets employment.
The VHP’s Karwa Chauth Mehndi Seva initiative beautifully unites devotion, tradition, and empowerment, reaffirming the Hindu spirit of ‘Seva Parmo Dharma’ (Service is the highest duty), celebrating festivals together and bringing a smile to everyone’s face.
