Jun

27

Fair wives and unfair Gods

June 27, 2009 posted by indiatime |

Rumor mills are still abuzz about how Michael Jackson changed his skin color from black to white. To be fair to Mr. Jackson, the transformation of his own skin turned out to be a skin condition. But most girls of marrying age and most wannabe brides in India, know how critical it is to enhance themselves with at least a couple of shades fairer than their true colors.

In fact, from time immemorial, India’s beauty industry has always focused on selling the secrets of fairness. In a land where dust, sweat & pollution make up the most of the challenges to a person’s appearance, the make-up barons have made a fortune out of the idea that applying certain substances to the skin can eventually turn it into fairer shades, the ones desired by a prospective bride’s future groom and in-laws. Young maidens all over India dream of the haldi ceremony, a fixture in traditional Indian marriages, an elaborate fun-and-giggle-filled musical happening where the bride gets creamed with layers of turmeric mixed with other herbal materials. Even in day-to-day lives, gram-flours to lemon drops to turmeric powder to cow-dung to talcum powders, every substance in nature is routinely tried and tested in the millions of homes all across India, in the hopes of fairer-ness.

Although fairness may appear to be a national obsession in India, the twist in the tale is that Indians do not necessarily worship fairer Gods. In fact, Krishna, India’s erstwhile deity, is revered for his dark skin color with its hypnotic blue shade. The Sanskrit word Krishna literally means dark or black. The traditional songs and prayers to Krishna praise his dark blue skin, a feature that sets him apart from the rest of India’s humanity and moreover, its divinity.

There in the center of it
abides Krishna
Of the color of a dark cloud
In the bloom of youth
Clad in yellow raiment
Splendidly adorned with celestial gems
And holding a flute

- (Horace Hayman Wilson, Translation of Vishnu Purana)


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4 Comments so far

  1. Diksha on June 29, 2009 8:39 pm

    U truly say that Krishna means Dark and the poem at end is fitting. What you did miss out on the “celestial gems” Krishna is wearing. If all Indian girls had the “gems” (Literally that kind of wealth);-) it would be very possible that the beauty industry wouldn’t survive in India. Honey, money overrides everything when it comes to the INDIAN MARRIAGE MARKET.

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