Everything you need to know about Mehndi or henna is right here. Mehndi art is now an upcoming field.

And because of this pandemic, many people have started taking interest in it. Why should you be left behind?

Read all about it right here and now. 

Table Of Contents:

• What Is Mehndi & Its Origin?
• History Of Mehndi
• What Is Henna & Its Origin?
• History Of Henna
• Types Of Henna
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Conclusion

What Is Mehndi & Its Origin?

Mehndi is the traditional art of painting the hands, feet or body with a paste made from the powdered, dried leaves of the henna plant. It stains a usually cherry-red to brown colour but this can vary with time left on and a range of other factors.

Mehndi started in the Middle East and Northern Africa over 5,000 years ago. It has been used for artistic, ritual and ceremonial use. Archaeologists have even found mummies with hennaed hands. It's quite popular for pain-free, temporary body art around the world.

Indian weddings or Hindu weddings are incomplete without the mehndi ceremony. The ritual of the mehndi ceremony is followed in every part of the country where the hands of the bride are adorned with the lovely red colour of the mehndi.

On these wedding occasions mostly traditional Indian designs are made on the hands of the bride.

History Of Mehndi

The Mughals taught us all about the history of Mehndi and introduced it to India during the 12th century AD.

During that period the royal and rich used to decorate themselves with it.

The patterns were intricately made by the artists or the beauticians.

What Is Henna & Its Origin?

The leaves of the Henna plant contain a natural and very effective colouring pigment: Lawsone.

This Orange/Red dye releases as the leaves are crushed. Drying, milling, and sifting the Henna leaves into a fine powder maximizes the pigment release.

The powdered henna will activate with air and water. After mixing to a paste, you can apply it directly to your hair or skin for natural colouring. Henna temporarily tattoos the body, and permanently colours hair.

The earliest use of this plant dates back to the Pharaohs in Egypt, some 9,000 years ago. Cleopatra, the last queen of the ancient Egyptian civilisation is said to have used henna art to adorn her body. Egyptians also used to paint nails of the mummies using henna before burying them.

Henna as an art form has also got some superstitions attached to it.

In India, it is believed that the deeper the colour of henna on a bride’s hand, the better would be her relationship with the mother-in-law. In some places, it is also said to signify the strength of love between the bride and groom.

Many traditional henna designs are secret symbols of prosperity, love, loyalty, fertility and good luck.

History Of Henna

The art of henna has been practised for over 5000 years in Pakistan, India, Africa and the Middle East. Some documentation dates it to be over 9000 years old.

Because henna has natural cooling properties, people of the desert, for centuries, have been using henna to help control their body temperature.

They would make a paste from the crushed dried leaves of the henna plant and soak their palms and soles of the feet in it to get a cooling effect. The cooling sensation was felt throughout the body for as long as the henna stain remained on their skin.

Types Of Henna Designs

Here’s the list of some popular types of henna designs:

1. Indian Henna Design

2. Arabic Henna Design

3. Moroccan Henna Design

4. Figure Art Henna Design

5. Object Art Henna Design

6. Script Henna Design

7. White Henna Design

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the purpose of mehndi?

The core significance of applying Mehndi is to utilize its natural medicinal herbal remedies, cooling the body. Henna is applied to both the hands and the feet as a means of cooling the nerve endings of the body.

2. Why do brides put on mehndi?

Its leaves are good for the growth of nails. Also, mehndi has a cooling effect that helps in soothing stress, headaches and fever. It helps the bride relieve the wedding stress.

3. What does mehndi symbolize?

Mehndi represents the bond of matrimony and is therefore considered a 'shagun'. It signifies the love and affection between the couple and their families.

4. How long does henna last on your skin?

Henna lasts about two weeks or so. After that, it starts fading away.

5. Is henna dangerous for the skin?

Henna is generally safe when applied to the skin. Staining the skin reddish-brown, traditional henna can be safely used for body art. If you have an allergy it is best to stay away from it. It could cause a rash.

Conclusion

Mehndi is an art that is appreciated all over India. We hope that after reading this blog, even you start taking an interest in this field.

If you have any doubts or need us to clarify anything, please leave a comment below and we will get back to you.