Not only a beautiful drawing, Mehndi also shows the desire for lasting happiness of Indian girls before going to her husband's house.
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| Mehndin or “Mehendi” is an ancient form of body art, popular in the Middle East, Africa and some South Asian countries. In India, Mehndi is a traditional ritual, becoming an inseparable part of wedding ceremonies. |
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| For Hindu brides, Mehndi tattoos are considered as one of the precious jewelry on the day of marriage, and her beauty on the wedding day will not be considered perfect without these drawings. |
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| The women attending the ceremony wear simple, light-colored outfits. The venue is decorated with flowers and colorful drapes. The bride wears a pale yellow or green dress with short sleeves for easy drawing. The groom wears a traditional Kurta Pajama, which is brightly colored. |
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| Traditionally, Mehndi powder is made from dried henna leaves. The leaves are dried in the sun, crushed, and filtered to obtain a green powder. This is then dissolved in water, lemon juice, eucalyptus oil, and a few other ingredients. The “Mehndi ink” is soaked overnight and then poured into a plastic funnel, cut at the top, similar to an ice cream cone. The size of the cut piece depends on the thickness of the strokes. |
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| Mehndi can be washed off easily with water, so after drawing, the bride should not wash her hands to keep the shape and color of the drawing intact. |
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| The designs are drawn by one of the bride’s relatives or friends. Nowadays, professional Mehendi artists do this. The designs can be as simple or as complex as the bride wants. Mehndi is drawn on the front and back of the palms, forearms, up to the elbows, and on the feet up to the knees. |
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| While the bride sits quietly having her Mehndi done, the elder women play musical instruments and sing traditional songs. The friends also get Mehendi done on their hands, but the designs are not as elaborate as the bride's. |
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| In the past. Mehndi designs were quite simple, but now they have become much more elaborate and complicated. Professional Mehndi artists are quick to catch up with the new trend, creating elaborate patterns, combining them with stones to create a sparkling, luxurious look. |
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| The groom is not required to have Mehendi, but can still have small dots or simple designs drawn on his hands and feet. |
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| Mehendi is not just a beauty treatment, it also contains beliefs that are passed down through generations. Somewhere in the Mehendi design, the names of the bride and groom are hidden. The groom who finds it will help cement the couple's love, especially in arranged marriages. In addition, Henna powder, with its cooling properties, is said to calm the bride's mind. |
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| Today, this ritual is not only a part of Hindu weddings in India but is also celebrated in countries like Pakistan, Nepal, and some Middle Eastern countries. |
According to Zing
