From Sindoor to Lac: 5 Indian cultural things and how they are produced

India is the home to culture, traditions, rituals, festivals, and more. Be it the everyday tradition of married women to apply Sindoor, or the occasional Lac bangles many wear for the aesthetics, there is a part of culture in every part of life. But, have you ever wondered how most items used by Indians are made and produced?
If not, here we mention 5 Indian cultural things and how they are naturally produced.

Sindoor, or vermilion, is the sacred red powder that Indian women wear as a symbol of their married status. It is applied in the middle of the hairline, or the ‘Maang’, and it is believed that a Sindoor is the symbol of marital status, long life of the husband, and is a wife’s devotion to her husband.
And when it comes to making Sindoor, people use different ways. Some natural Sindoor is made by mixing turmeric and lime, which results in a reddish-tinted powder, while some people do it with the Sindoor plant.
Sindoor plant, also known as Annatto, has bright red coloured fruits that burst open when they mature. And if you pick them before the burst, and open them up, you can extract the seeds from inside, and by crushing them, you will get a red dye in your hands.

Lac bangles are coming back in trend now, and for all the good reasons. They look super pretty, can be customised to your wishes, and seeing a craftsman make them is so amusing. And in many cultures, for a bride, wearing lac bangles is a symbol of good fortune.
And when it comes to how Lac is produced, well, it is a natural resin that is extracted by an insect. The Kerria lacca insect is cultivated on host trees like Palash or Kusum. As the insects leave a resin-like trail, this is collected and purified to turn into Lac.
The purified lac is then kneaded and softened over a flame until it becomes shapeable.

Kajal is a symbol of beauty for many Indian women, and is used culturally, traditionally, and even just for its beauty. In certain traditions, Kajal is used to enhance the beauty of a girl’s eyes, and in some others, it is applied to keep evil energy away. And traditionally, Kajal was made by collecting the residue from an oil lamp or a diya.
And if you wish to make Kajal at home, keep a small flame burning with ghee, and over it place a metal plate. When the flame goes out, you will see black residue all over the plate. Use a spoon or a knife to scrape it off, collect it in a box, and use whenever needed.
If you wish to have liquid kajal, just add some almond oil or ghee to it.

Itar, also known as Attar, is a form of fragrant oil that women use during occasions and even in everyday wear. It is usually dated back to the Mughal era, and the concentrated oil is distilled from flowers, herbs, or spices. In India, the ‘Kannauj attar’ is extremely famous, and just the making is amusing to say the least.
Itars are made with fresh flowers like rose, jasmine, or kewda, or even products like saffron and sandalwood. The raw product is placed in large copper stills, and then water is added to the pot. It is then slowly heated over a fire, and the fragrant oil gradually settles as the steam condenses.

Mehndi, or Henna, is another cultural product for Indians. Be it applying henna on hands during festivals and occasions, or applying it to your hair for better hair health, Mehndi can be used in different ways.
And this product, too, is produced naturally, with the dried leaves of the henna plant. The leaves are harvested, dried in full sun, and then ground into a fine powder. It is then mixed with water, lemon juice, or even essential oils like eucalyptus, according to the use.