Mehndi Magic
May 31, 2008
A temporary form skin decoration of hands and feet, mehndi the Indian word for henna is extremely popular in South Asia, Middle East, North Africa and Somalia, typically employed on special occasions, particularly weddings. Used as a cosmetic for 5,000 years, the tradition of Mehndi originated in India and involves the application of intricately elaborate henna paste to the skin in patterns that are intricate and elaborate in the extreme. A Hindu marriage special, this beautiful red dye made from the dried leaves of a tropical shrub has become synonymous with Hindu weddings. In fact, the term mehndi is used interchangeably with marriage, with Mehndi considered to be among the most auspicious ‘ornaments’ of a married woman.
Considered beneficial and lucky, and Indian women are very fond of it, and many popular beliefs prevail about Mehndi, especially among women. Many Hindu women believe that darker the colour of mehndi on a bride’s palms, the deeper will be the love received from her mother-in-law.
As well, a groom’s name is often hidden amongst the mehndi design of a bride’s palm. If, the groom fails to find his name within the intricate patterns, it is believed the bride will be the dominant partner in the marriage. Sometimes, a groom is not allowed to commence his wedding night until he finds his name. This could be a subterfuge to initiate a physical relationship by letting the groom touch the bride’s hand in countries where marriages are arranged. Similar to the western belief that whoever catches the brides bouquet will be the next to marry, it is believed that if an unmarried girl receives scrapings of Mehndi leaves from a bride, she will soon find a suitable match.
Dried leaves powdered and mixed with water are used to form the mehndi paste. Squeezed through the tip of a cone, patterns are drawn on the skin and allowed to dry for 3-4 hours until hard and crusty. It is then washed off to reveal a dark rusty red imprint, which stays for weeks.
The introduction of Mehndi into the Euro-American culture is a recent phenomenon that has fast become a trendy alternative to tattoos. Actress Demi Moore and singer Gwen Stefani were among the first to sport Mehndi. Since, stars like Madonna, Drew Barrymore, Naomi Campbell, Liv Tyler, Nell McAndrew, Mira Sorvino, Daryl Hannah, Angela Bassett, Laura Dern, Laurence Fishburne, and Kathleen Robertson have all tried Henna tattoos, the great Indian way.
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