It is Ashada month in India according to India's national civil calendar. There is an age old ritual of putting "Gorintaku" on hands especially in Ashada in Telugu states of India. "Gorintaku" is a leaf when its paste applied on hands give you beautiful red colour.

In the Telugu states, the Ashada Masam is synonymous with Gorintaku aka Mehendi. The most commonly followed tradition by Telugu people during the month of Ashada is a newlywed bride going back to her mother’s place and spending time with her family till this month is over.Besides spending time with the family, there is also another custom followed in Aashaadha. Women put Gorintaku or henna or Mehendi on their hands and feet. Though there are many reasons for applying Gorintaku in this season, the main reason is that in the monsoon season you are prone to seasonal infections. When you apply Mehendi, it prevents bacteria from infecting the skin.

There are also other reasons for applying Mehendi during the season:

Since women are in constant contact with water while doing household chores, the skin on their hands may get swollen. Mehendi is said to prevent this.Application of Gorintaku can prevent too much stress because it cools the body and keeps the nerves from getting tense.

Scientifically it removes uterine defects. In the center of the palm are the main veins that supply blood to the uterus of a woman. Gorintaku absorbs the most heat in them. Gorintaku is crushed into a paste and swallowed by the mother after childbirth to cure uterine pains caused by childbirth. The association of Gorintaku and henna makes the body beautiful and delicate because of the well-functioning feminine hormones in a woman. The ripening of gorintaku indicates the health of the female. Health is a blessing. It is said that a beautiful girl will get a handsome husband. Another interesting belief is that young girls who put Gorintaku feel that darker the shade of red on your hands, greater the love she gets from her husband and in-laws.

Being a girl born in a telugu family I was always excited for this month. For Indians kitchen is the best doctor and nature is the best medicine. We the people of India tend to follow many rituals in each and every month because of the rules put up by our ancestors but each and every ritual have the greatest scientific significance and most of them are related to nature and its components.