Indian Accessories

Mehendi is a small plant grown in tropical region. When the leaves of this plant are dried and ground we get a rusty red pigment used to make beautiful designs on the palms and legs. This paste has no adverse effects on the skin;

at the same time its cooling effect is good for the skin. While mehendi dye is applied to the body to create intricate patterns it causes no pain and it is an excellent alternative to permanent tattoo.

Mehendi has become a synonym for Hindu wedding since mehendi is one of the most auspicious jewels of married women and Hindus very often use the word mehendi instead of marriage. Mehendi has an indispensable place in a marriage that it is not possible for any one to imagine a marriage without mehendi. It is true that several other festivals and religious functions are celebrated using mehendi. But only Hindu wedding has become synonymous with this wonderful red paste. Ladies and even men love to get their hands to be decorated with intrinsic patterns using mehendi dye.

We see a number of religious rites before and during a Hindu wedding and mehendi have a very significant role to play, such that an Indian marriage cannot be complete without it. The rustic red color of the mehendi symbolizes prosperity and the bride wearing this color is supposed to bring fortune and prosperity with her to the new house. And mehendi’s role is very vital and auspicious in all wedding related rites.

During Mehendi ritual, conducted the day before the wedding, the girl and her female relatives and friends come together and the bride-to-be’s hands, palms, waist and feet will be decorated with the red color mehendi producing intricate patterns on those parts. This is an occasion for joy and fun. Even the groom will be given a mehendi touch.

Mehendi is an effective conditioner and dye for the hair. Married women, observing fasts/vratas apply mehendi on their hands. Lord Ganesha and Goddess Lakshmi are often seen with a big dot in the centre and four smaller dots at the sides of their hands.

Mehendi or Henna has been in the use as a natural cosmetic for the past 5000years. The tradition of mehendi is believed to have originated in North Africa and the Middle East.

Only in the 12th century the Mughals brought mehendi to India. As it started to gain more popularity people began to apply more sophisticated methods and designs. Latest research shows that the intricate patterns found in India have assumed their present form in the 20th century only. In the 17th century the barber’s wife was appointed to apply henna on Indian women. From that time most women in India, regardless of their social and marital status embellish their hands and feet with mehendi.

Since the rich and royal families, from very early, used mehendi for various matters it became very popular among people. The reasons for its appeal with the masses are plenty like it is cooling and painless, not permanent like real tattoos and no artistic skill needed to apply it.

Nothing sacred or spiritual is associated with mehendi, but it is believed that it will bring luck, fortune, blessings and benefits to the family. To prepare a mehendi paste, dried leaves are powdered and mixed with water. Then patterns are drawn on the skin by squeezing the paste through the tip of a cone. The girl sits motionless for about 3-4 hours until the designs become dry, hard and crusted. The paste is said to impart a cooling effect on the bride’s nerves. The remains of the paste are removed with water. Now a dark red imprint, lasting for some weeks, is left on the skin.

Today mehendi is gaining a significant place in the fashion world very fast. People all over the world have begun to realize the harmless features of this wonderful paste and consider this as an alternative to real tattoos. This painless mehendi is introduced into the Euro-American culture recently and it is appreciated in the West. Mehendi has got a boost by the Hollywood actors, celebrities and Pop singers who have made this art of skin painting famous. People and cosmopolitan help in spreading the mehendi fashion still further.