Rehan Qayoom Mir
Aaliya Emran, a 23-year-old mehandi artist from Bemina Srinagar is providing free services to the poor and orphan brides “to make their precious moments memorable”.
“I offer services at affordable prices as I want everyone to be able to make good memories on their wedding day. However, to make the special occasion memorable for orphans and less fortunate brides, I do it for free,” Aaliya told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO).
Aaliya has completed her BA and is now pursuing MA. Without any formal training, she has turned her passion for applying mehandi into a profession.
She said that for Kashmiri brides, the mehandiraat is one of the most important functions when the bride patiently watches her hands and feet being adorned with trending mehandi designs.
Aaliya is running a page on Instagram with the name of ‘Aaliyah_Emran’ from where she gets bookings.
“My expertise grew with time. Initially, many in our locality began preferring me over any other professional artist in the area. Now, I have excelled in the field,” she said. “I like to take the designs to the next level by experimenting with the latest motifs which give attractive choices to brides.”
She applies all kinds of mehandis, including functional mehandi, festival mehandi, bridal and non-bridal mehandi.
It brings peace to my heart and makes me happy to help the poor and orphans make their special occasions more memorable, she said.
Aaliya said her family is her biggest support. “They have always respected, understood, trusted and guided me,” she said.
“Her work and compassionate personality have won the hearts of people, and she is putting smiles on the faces of orphan brides by dying their hands, free of charge. Aaliya’s work is not just a profession, but a passion for serving the community with love and compassion,” said her mother
