On the day we arrived they were doing Mehndi for the ladies. Mehndi is what we would call a henna tattoo in the States and is very common before an Indian wedding (for both the bride and the women attending). It’s an ancient form of body art in which designs are created on a person’s body using a paste made out of the powdered leaves of the henna plant.
3 or 4 teens were doing the application of the henna paste for our group. Depending on how much you had done, it usually took 30-60 minutes per person. Common places to have it done are on the hands and lower arms, although a bride will often get it all over her body.
This is a very communal practice. When you’re not waiting your turn, sitting for the drawing or waiting for it to dry (another 45-60 minutes); you find a place among the circle of women and chat. It was an all-day affair. Nia and I both decided to try it. She went first, of course.
She sat painstakingly still for 60 minutes while the lady drew on her hand. She said it ‘tickled’. I would agree with that. Here’s a close-up of Nia’s hand.
What I couldn’t get over was how artistic this whole process was. I would liken it to fancy doodling. The artist made up the design on the spot. Literally, no two designs were the same. And to be able to do that for hours and hours on end with such precision! I was absolutely enchanted watching it all. I couldn’t stop staring at my design. It was just so beautiful and unique.
Here’s a close-up of Nia’s hand with the henna paste on it. As the paste dries over the next 30-60 minutes, it begins to flake off and leaves an orange stain. The stain darkens to a dark reddish-brown over the next 24 to 72 hours as oxidation occurs and eventually fades back to skin color after a week or so.
Nia loved it so much that she went back for a second round on her arms! I caught her sneaking back to do a third round and pulled the plug. Just wait until she learns about regular tattoos! We might be in trouble.
As I mentioned above, I also got henna done. Here is a picture of me getting Mehndi applied.
And here’s what my design looked like while it was setting:
Since it was my first time getting it done, I decided to only get it done on the inside of my hand. I was happy with my choice. Next time I’ll likely opt for a design that covers both sides.
And here are a couple more artsy shots showcasing my mehndi.
Pretty dang cool, huh?? I can’t wait to have it done again!
