Mehendi, the art of applying henna on the skin, is one of the most beautiful ways to adorn your body with beautiful patterns and elaborate designs. During weddings, the bride is adorned with exotic patterns and designs and in eastern cultures it forms an integral part of the marriage ritual. Sometimes the groom is also applied henna but not as elaborately as the bride. In some countries like India, Pakistan, Morocco and some from the Gulf, mehendi becomes a ritual that provides sanctity to special occasions such as functions, marriages, religious events, etc. In marriages, special mehendi ceremonies are held where everyone soaks up in the festive ambience and enjoy themselves to the fullest. Depending upon the culture and custom, the mehendi ritual is celebrated in different ways in different regions. In any occasion, the tradition of applying mehendi, hold more significance because of its symbolization, rather than the beauty of its design. Scroll down the article to know more on mehendi tradition, designs and tips for traditional occasions.
Henna Designs And Dresses
Read about mehendi tips for traditional occasions, henna designs and dresses that go with then and mehndi tradition in weddings and celebrations.
Mehendi As A Tradition
- Traditionally, there are four categories of henna designs, namely, Middle Eastern, North African, Indian and Pakistani, and Southeast Asian. While Middle Eastern designs comprises mainly of floral patterns, the North African designs heavily uses geometrical floral patterns. The lively Indian and Pakistani designs are intricate in details and are very elaborate. The Southeast Asian designs are a perfect blend of both Indian and Middle Eastern designs. Whatever be the design, the main idea behind getting your mehendi done is to know its significance and make your skin look appealing.
- Thus, there are various attractive designs available from which you can choose. You can take your pick from simple designs, suitable for small functions to elaborate and decorative designs for special occasions. Some of the most common and sought after henna designs are peacock, lotus, flowers, birds, leaves, sun, etc. For weddings, special bridal designs are selected, which are quite exotic and elegant. In brides, the henna designs are painted on both the hands and feet in intricate detail and for this special mahendi artist are hired. Arabic and floral patterns are also equally popular these days and more and more people are going for it. There are also a few mehendi parlors and an increasing number of beauty parlors, which offer henna design packages, especially during the booming wedding season.
- As henna is temporary and harmless, it is a favorite among women. Henna goes very well with traditional outfits like ethnic kurtas, saris, embroidered suits, etc. It plays a significant role during the time of Karva Chauth too, an occasion where married women fast from sunrise till the moonrise to pray for the longevity of their better half. Celebrated mostly in North India, in the month of October, this occasion allows women to dress in their wedding clothes, apply mehendi and fast until they glimpse the full moon. Thus, mehendi and marriages go hand in hand and are quite inseparable.
Mehendi Tradition In Weddings And Celebrations
- In weddings and religious festivals, the application of henna, mehendi, is an auspicious ritual. In the Indian subcontinent, this tradition had been carried on for centuries. The henna plant was brought to India by the Moguls during the 12th Century and since then mehendi has crept into the social and religious fabric of the country. In the Mediterranean, during the Bronze Age, women used to decorate their bodies using henna in social celebrations.
- Henna is considered to be a symbol of fertility and so the mehendi ritual during weddings is considered sacred. Adorning the bride with henna also symbolizes prosperity and happiness. In Hindu marriages, the groom's name is sometimes inscribed within the complex mehendi design in the palm of the bride. It's believed, that if the groom is unable to find the name in the intricate pattern, the bride will be more dominating. In Muslim weddings, the bride is decorated with henna, before the wedding night, called the henna night.