Skip to main content

Roop Chaudas: celebration of beauty, body and mind

After tiring preparations for Diwali, Saturday was a day of relaxation for a large number of women in Indore celebrating Roop Chaudas. Most women flocked to beauty parlour and salons not only to get ready for the grand festivity of Diwali, but also for body massages and traditional ubtan (body scrub).
Naraka Chaturdashi falling on the second day of Diwali and is celebrated to mark the victory of Lord Krishna against Narkasur. The day is also known as Chhoti Diwali, Kali Chaudas or Roop Chaudas. There is a ritual to break karit (a bitter fruit) on the day, symbolising the victory of good over the evil.
Kali Chaudas is the day when a person is expected to abolish laziness and evil residing in his own self that is turning his life towards hell. Hence, the importance of bringing out your best self is must by washing away all the negativity and evil.
Women spent good amount of time and money on body massage, spa and hair treatment in parlours. The massages with natural oils or aroma therapies were most sought-after services.
“For working women, the concept of beauty is not about doing a special thing for a particular day, but regular maintenance of look. I decided to take a step further for Roopchoudas and upgraded my facial keeping in mind the festive spirit,” Madhuri Sharma, chief executive officer of a private firm, said.
“Besides being preparing for Diwali, I got ready for gathering at our office on Roop chaudas. My main aim was to get relaxed through spa and massage as the preparation for Diwali was quite hectic in the past few days,” Neha Mittal, an interior designer, said.
Beauty salons were busy throughout the day offering varied services to clients pampering and beautifying them from head to toe. Special packages were designed for the day as the clients were managed in slots.
“Beauty today is not just about looking good, but also being healthy and detoxified from inside. People are thinking more in terms of herbal treatments and services, which give them healthy glow instead of makeup,” Sapna Shukla, owner of a salon, said.
While in many families beautification of women on Roop chaudas held significance, in Marathi families men were massaged with fragrant oils even before the sunrise to celebrate ‘Narka Chaturdashi’.
Women also beautified themselves at home with home remedies and traditional beauty hacks for Roop chaudas. The most popular traditional ubtan was prepared using gram flour and turmeric powder.
“Using homemade ubtan is definitely better for us, because no matter how well-advertised the product claiming to be organic, it has preservatives that have a negative impact on our skin,” Prakrati Verma, a homemaker, said.

Popular posts from this blog

Students of Indore Deaf Bilingual Academy celebrate visual humor in a unique Signed Laughter Show

Deaf students bring laughter alive through sign language at Indore academy By TINA KHATRI | INDORE | April 11, 2026 Students of Indore Deaf Bilingual Academy showcase expressive storytelling through Indian Sign Language. In a refreshing celebration of expression beyond words, students of Indore Deaf Bilingual Academy lit up their campus with a unique “Signed Laughter Show”, proving that humour does not need sound to connect with audiences. Held at the academy in Gumasta Nagar, the event featured deaf students presenting a series of comic acts based on the theme of laughter and joy. The performances, delivered entirely through Indian Sign Language (ISL), highlighted the power of visual storytelling and expressive communication. Students brought a wide range of characters to life through gestures, facial expressions and body language. Rupesh Ingle , a B.Com student, impressed the audience with his portrayal of “Baga” from the popular televi...

Vishu marks grand finale of eight-day Prana Pratishtha celebrations at Mahalaxmi Nagar Ayyappa–Ganesh Temple

Vishu 2026 brings emotional finale to eight-day Prana Pratishtha celebrations at Indore’s Mahalaxmi Nagar temple By TINA KHATRI | INDORE | April 15, 2026 Devotion and togetherness: The finale of the Prana Pratishtha celebrations at Mahalaxmi Nagar. What began as a routine annual religious observance turned into a week-long atmosphere of devotion, culture and community bonding at Mahalaxmi Nagar, as the eight-day Prana Pratishtha anniversary celebrations at the Lord Ayyappa and Ganesh Temple concluded on Wednesday with Vishu marking a deeply symbolic finale. From early morning prayers to illuminated evening gatherings, the temple remained alive for eight continuous days as devotees took part in rituals that followed traditional Kerala customs. The programme, which began on April 8, featured daily poojas performed by priests from Kerala, giving the celebrations an authentic traditional structure. Symbol of Prosperity: The ...

Practical Math Mela: Inclusive Learning at Indore Deaf Bilingual Academy | Tina Khatri

Education Spotlight: IDBA Summer Camp 2026 Practical Mela Held at Indore Deaf Bilingual Academy By Tina Khatri | April 8, 2026 Watch: Highlights of the Practical Mela at Indore Deaf Bilingual Academy. A practical mela was conducted at the Indore Deaf Bilingual Academy (IDBA) during its 31st summer camp, featuring Deaf students from nursery to college level. The event, run by Mook Badhir Sangathan , focused on bridging the gap between textbook mathematics and daily life applications. Students worked in collaborative groups of four to five to prepare projects that brought complex concepts to life. Advanced Concepts Financial Literacy: LIC insurance, basic concepts of GST, and Bank/ATM operations. ...