Almond Eyes, Lotus Feet: Indian Traditions in Beauty and Health

by Sharada Dwivedi, Shalini Devi Holkar

A national bestseller in India, Almond Eyes, Lotus Feet is the fictional memoir of a wise Indian princess, who recalls the ways the women of the Indian court found friendship, faith, and love through their beauty traditions. We journey with her as she recounts a lifetime of comforting rituals, tantalizing textures, colors, and fragrances, exquisite jewels and adornments, and assorted beauty and health secrets passed through generations of women by word of mouth. In Almond Eyes, Lotus Feet , Sharada Dwivedi, a native of India, and Shalini Devi Holkar, an Indian princess by marriage, draw on the oral histories of privileged Indian women to capture and revive their many wonderful and wise beauty traditions. The result is a rich cultural tapestry, filled with ancient remedies, recipes, and tonics used to soften skin, silken hair, enrich the body, and lift the spirit like no store-bought products can. Additionally, the book offers a glossary of plants, flowers, spices, and grains and simple home remedies for women in all stages of life—from puberty to pregnancy to menopause— Replete with gorgeous photos and illustrations from a bygone era, Almond Eyes, Lotus Feet is a treasure trove of time-honored health and beauty customs that will delight the senses of modern women everywhere.

Genres: Nonfiction, India, Health, Cultural

272 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2005

Reviews

[Madame-Zenista · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked the book. The language is beautiful, the photographs and pictures are excellent and the beauty/ health recipes are inspiring enough to try out. I have an elaborate review on my blog here (as I am sure you have nothing better to do!). But all I will say is women who are into holistic living, inclined to know about Ayurveda and like history will find it a delightful read!

[Dhyana · Rating 4 out of 5]

There seemed to be no rigid structure to this book; it was more reminiscent of someone fondly recalling stories of a time long gone. For the most part, I enjoyed this.

This book revealed to me a facet of my culture, of which I was more or less unaware of, and it was such an enjoyable experience getting to read all about the countless beauty and health rituals within India (maybe I should take some tips from my ancestors and take more care of my hair past the occasional application of coconut oil to it). There are anecdotal recipes regarding beauty and health throughout the book, and a collection of them at the end of the book, some of which I was previously aware of, others I was not, and a few of which I look forward to trying!

Overall, I enjoyed this and would definitely recommend!

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is truly a breath of fresh air.

I feel as many herbal books are Eurocentric, choosing to focus on beauty treatments and herbs favored in Europe. This book provides an interesting new perspective on beauty and health from an Indian point of view.

[Srishti · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fabulously lush! Oh to be an Indian princess

[GenevieveAudrey · Rating 4 out of 5]

While it was a fictional account, I loved reading about the Rajput princess's life and the natural remedies to be had for everything. It brought to mind the long disappeared, but fascinating, era of royal India. I shall attempt to use the recipes with the simpler ingredients.
The phtos and illustrations in this book were an added pleasure of reading it. They were all absolutely gorgeous.

[Nivedha · Rating 5 out of 5]

I started reading this thinking I would get a few recipes from ayurvedic practices but the book transported me to a different and simpler era. It reminded so much of my grandmother who still loves to care for herself. I somehow feel in all the great endeavours we women now pursue, self love and care has taken the back seat. This book reminded me to pamper myself. I am sad that it ended. The pictures included were so interesting.

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was delightful. Just a simple book about how a real-life Indian princess (and her plethora of maids!) took care of her body through herbal remedies, what her mother taught her, etc. etc. It was so interesting. It is written like a little memoir/journal.

[Aditi · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful read. I do not know what readers who did not grow up with these traditions (or close enough) will make of this, but this reminded me of a lot of things my childhood was made up of. The pictures are rare and beautiful, and one could purchase this book just for that, if nothing else.

[Nita · Rating 4 out of 5]

*ALMOND EYES, LOTUS FEET:* Indian Traditions in Beauty and Health
*Authors:Sharada Dwivedi, Shalini Devi Holkar*
Genre: Fictional Memoir (Health and Fitness)
Moods✓ Reflective Informative✓
Pace: Medium✓

Replete with gorgeous pictures and illustrations from a bygone era, *Almond Eyes, Lotus Feet* is a treasure trove of time-honored health and beauty customs that will delight the senses of modern women everywhere.

I picked this book for my genre challenge this year.
I am sure there are many contemporary books written on health and fitness. But if we decide to go back to our roots to dig up our beauty and fitness secrets, what more can entice an Indian woman than the ancient palace beauty secrets and rituals shared by the princess herself.

Even though we remember much of the information shared in the book as the advice of our mother or grandmother, many of them are perished just into childhood memories with the passage of years.
This book is a timely reminder of taking a glimpse into the reality of how far we have travelled neglecting our own traditional wisdom to chase after the modern cosmetics and chemical treatments and finally at the cost of what ?

Poor writing and the fragmented format of this book can be a huge turn off. But if we keep our prejudices aside and try to approach it with an open mind, this book actually can pleasantly surprise you.

*More than a beauty book, It has snippets of valuable ancient wisdom on:*
* Women's health and hygiene.
* Medicinal properties of spices.
* Usage of seasonal fragrances and the role of the ingredients in it.
* Ancient beliefs in the beneficial qualities of metals.
* The healing properties of gem stones.
* Also, the significance of each piece of ornaments women used to wear.

Additionally, the book offers a glossary of plants, flowers, spices, and grains and simple home remedies for women in all stages of life from puberty to pregnancy to menopause.

*My Rating: 4/5*

[Ashwini · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sometimes you read books just to be in a world which no more exists. This book takes you to a more feminine world of kings and women who were happy to get dressed. I say what’s wrong in that if a woman has that privilege she should enjoy it. Women deserve the spa and care and what better place than home . Love this book and simple style.

[Simran Kaur · Rating 3 out of 5]

its usually difficult for me to read about women in the past whose only purpose was to look pretty, get married as kids and have their own as soon as their body allows them. it's just disheartening for me. but on a good note, I loved the app aesthetical and cultural parts of this book. the beauty recipes are quite interesting. overall a 50/50 for me.
(2022)

[Vaishnavi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book tat makes u to have a look into our old precious traditions

written very well .... after the book was completed reading I felt as though I was watching a royal Princess movie...... 😊 Impressive good tips......

[S · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a book I didn't anticipate liking so much! I couldn't stop reading and the I liked the flow of narration and a glimpse into the past. I have always been interested in beauty routines done by ladies in the past and didn't have access to so much detail even from my family.

[Divya · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was a great start, with a good mix of laugh and cry but certain parts didn't pull through for me enough to reach that satisfaction of a 5 star.

[Surbhi Sood · Rating 4 out of 5]

Phenomenal storytelling to imbibe natural beauty and welfare habits in women!!!

[Avishi · Rating 3 out of 5]

An enjoyable and informative read for anyone who is interested in getting a glimpse of Indian traditional beauty traditions and culture held and practiced by Indian royalty

[Sinduja Krishna Kumar · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is actually a beautiful book, like a conversation with a grandma.

[Meenal]

37% is basically telling women how to get pregnant and post care

[Mixed Bag · Rating 5 out of 5]

‘Almond Eyes, Lotus Feet’ – the title – refers to Goddess Saraswati, the Indian Goddess of Wisdom and Beauty (talk about beauty and brains)! Before starting anything new, we Indians pay obeisance to our favorite gods and goddesses so we are guided by them throughout the process. So, I’m glad that this first book review is about the book Almond Eyes, Lotus Feet. It’s my way of paying my obeisance to Goddess Saraswati with my first book review.

To begin with, I absolutely love the title. I am sure every woman, regardless of race, colour and nationality, aspires to have beautiful almond eyes and pretty feet like a lotus. And Princess Shashi Raje on the cover just embodies the title. What pretty eyes and lustrous hair!
This book is written by two women – Sharada Dwivedi, an author who writes about art, architecture, history and traditions of cuisine and Shalini Devi Holkar (Sally), who is American by birth and has lived and worked in India for nearly 40 years.

The book is written in the form of a narrative by an Indian princess (now in her seventies) who is reminiscing about her younger days. She talks about her life in a palace – her childhood, her early marriage to a Prince from the neighbouring state, her wedding preparations, relationships with the many women in her marital home, childbirth and many other topics, all of this while describing traditional skin care, hair care rituals followed by women (princesses and commoners) in India at that time. Princess Padmini, the narrator, also talks about simple home remedies for women of all ages, from puberty to menopause.

My favourite part is the recipes at the end of the book. Luxurious sandalwood masks, almond-saffron masks for flawless skin, papaya and mint tea for acne, recipes for post-natal care and to strengthen bones, ancient recipes for various medicinal brews and tonics and how to make fragrant sachets to keep our cupboards and closets smelling divine. I mean, what is not to like about this book? It is a sensory delight for women everywhere!

The language used is pretty simple, no flowery language or prose, but her genuineness, her innocence and her knowledge of Ayurveda (the ancient Indian art of medicine and healing) shines through. The pictures in the book are priceless if you are a history buff or just romantic like me. To call it a feel-good book will be an understatement. Almond eyes, Lotus Feet is a very important book, which makes you feel good.

This review was originally published on Mixed Bag

[Nupur · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a bit of a genre-defying book. It is the fictional memoir of a Rajput princess. She talks about her life in her childhood home (a palace) and life in her married household (another palace), in a women's compound (zenana). She describes rituals related to health and beauty, providing several recipes for everything from a masoor (lentil) face mask to pancakes that aid lactation. The book is a very quick and pleasant read.

It is interesting to get a glimpse into a life of extraordinary privilege, but with severe restrictions that reflect the culture of the time and place- the princess lives her life in a zenana (women's compound). Even so, a lot of the rituals and recipes she describes are familiar to me- such as oil massage (for body and hair), special foods to aid lactation, besan face packs and so on.

Descriptions of the hours-long elaborate baths left me exhausted and thankful for my 5 minute showers and single bottle of shampoo+ conditioner! Obviously, most of us don't have the luxury, time or even the inclination to make a career out of pampering ourselves. But the book is a nice reminder to take a few simple time-honored practices and simple ingredients to take care of oneself.

The book is worth looking at for the sumptuous historic photographs alone.

[Zach · Rating 4 out of 5]

A semiautobiographical book by and about a princess coming out of the tail end of India's princely system. It's mainly supposed to be about ayurvedic and natural health tips, and those abound, but I was mostly reading it for the fascinating insights into the community of women within the zenana, and a first-person look at the Indian community as it came out of the colonial era. The author more than once notes that this book is a little disorganized, but I'm okay with that. I wasn't reading it for the recipes (interesting as they were), so much as the the folklore and and historical aspects. It was beautifully written, eliciting strong emotions and sense sensations, as well as contrasting and rebutting Eurocentric beauty ideals and sociopolitical ideas. It was an illuminating look into the tail-end of an era, and the writer was so wonderfully friendly that I wish I could meet her and ask her questions.

[Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wouldn't consider this a beauty book primarily, but it certainly is a book of beauty. It contains histories, and traditions of indian culture weaved with a rich tapestry of ther culinary, remedial, birth and jewelry write-ups. I think this book focuses on maternity predominantly, because it began with childbirth and foods to eat.

I learnt alot from here. Picture a beautiful Maharani who is also your confidante and mother figure. Her advice is from the heart.

Also included are simple homemade beauty remedies. E.g:

Oily demeanor
Egg white + honey = creamy whisk
Put on face for 1/2 hr before washing off.

Normal to dry
Egg yolk + honey = milky whisk
Put on face for 1/2 hr before rinse.

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an entertaining book, but I thought it was supposed to be a beauty book, and it's more like a historical book with some beauty info thrown in. In the back of the book is where all the beauty recipes are, and most of them I will not be able to do, because they involve ingredients that I have never heard of, or are just laborious. Cute book to read, if you'd like to read info about an Indian Princess's life back in the day, but I wouldn't consider this a beauty read. Still, I liked it.

[Panda1602 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. From the front cover, to eloquently written words, to the amazing images and recipes. For me it was like side stepping out my modern life and awakening in Indian royalty. It really resonated with my inner divine feminine and I often found myself pondering how women would feel if they could just experience one day in the life of the princess - pure bliss was my recurring answer. There is certainly a depth to this book that at first may not be apparent to some. A delightful addition to my library.

[Sharanya · Rating 5 out of 5]

Almond Eyes, Lotus Feet is the fictional account of an Indian princess who recalls how Indian women of ancient times beautified themselves. She describes in detail about various beauty treatments and rituals. The single important point in the entire novel is that the best beauty products are those that can be found in the kitchen and garden. It is a very interesting read for girls and there are also detailed recipes for tonics, creams and other herbal preparations.

[Denise Tarasuk · Rating 5 out of 5]

Almond Eyes, Lotus Feet is a dream come true. Learning about traditional beauty and health in the palace is a perfect read for me. The beauty secrets are delightful, full of detail, and history. The writing is warm and friendly leaving me wanting more. The photographs will be a cherish for weeks to come! Well done! A Five Star For Sure! Perfect!

[Tori · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderfully written, charming read.

While the practical side of me feels it’s all so excessive and I’d never have the time or army of servants to make this kind of lifestyle a reality, it’s still good to think of ways to incorporate these ideas and self-care into my beauty repertoire.

[Neer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Breath-taking photographs make this book a visual delight. More here:

http://inkquilletc.blogspot.in/2014/1...

[Liz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Delightful! I thoroughly enjoyed this peek into the past in India