April 15, 2006
Mehndi & India
Mehndi reached India with the Arab invaders and became popular in northern states of Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and Gujarat. But then, its use was purely utilitarian as the paste is supposed to keep the hands and feet cool. Only later, women began experimenting with different patterns and an art was born.
You can find African, Arabic and Middle Eastern influences in mehndi patterns.
Indian mehndi styles are also distinctive for their intricate filigree-like work, which can completely cover the hands and wrists, often going right up to the elbow. On the legs it adorns the feet, the ankles and sometimes reaches up to the knees.
In Arabia, henna enjoyed religious sanction and even today, Muslims believe that its application is sunnah (a meritorious act). This explains why conservative Muslim women wear mehndi on their hands, feet and hair right through the year.
What, however, escapes that people is that mehndi is not Indian in origin, but draws upon a tradition that was adopted them north Africa. Almost 5000 years ago, the Egyptians discovered that paste from the henna plant had preservative properties and hence, was applied to the hands and toes of dead Pharaohs as part of the mummification ritual.
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