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Jan 1, 700
Origin of Mehndi
Mehndi is a form of body art using a paste from the henna plant, called Lawsonia inermis, which originated in Egypt. It is believed that it was carried regularly to India where it was used since at least 700 AD for decorating hands and feet (Persad, 2013). Henna was also known for its natural cooling properties and people used it to soothe themselves in the heat of the desert. It was a common practice to soak their palms and the soles of their feet in a henna paste to refresh their body. -
Jan 1, 1200
Popularization of mehndi in India
The Mughals (emperors in India who had descended from Persia) introduced mehndi to India during 12th century AD. In this period, the royal and rich would use mehndi to adorn their body (Parmar, 2013). The beauticians would make intricate designs to decorate the women's hands and feet. -
Period: Jan 1, 1300 to
Function of Mehndi Over the years
Practiced mainly in Indian Subcontinent, mehndi or henna is the application of as a temporary form of skin decoration. Mehndi in Indian tradition is typically applied during weddings and religious festivals. Many women have Henna applied to the palms of their hands, back of the hands and feet. Some Muslims in the Indian subcontinent also apply Mehndi during festivals such as Eid-ul-Fitr and Eid-ul-Adha. -
Mehndi @ weddings
The most popular traditions is the Mehndi Night (couple days before wedding) where the bride, her family, relatives and friends get together to celebrate the wedding. The night consists of dancing, music and getting mehndi done. The bride gets extensive mehndi patterns done on her hands and feet. The guests usually receive small designs on their hands as well. -
Period: to
How did mehndi become a global cultural expression
Mehndi has become a popular form of temporary body decoration in the US. There are many ways that mehndi has reached Western society. Mass media including movies, t.v. shows, etc. have began to expose mehndi to the West. Also, celebs like Gwen Stefani, Rihanna, etc. get mehndi done and show it off in public on social media, etc. (Oberlander, 2016). Advancement in technology and increased social media accounts posting various designs of henna have also allowed for mehndi to become globalized. -
Mehndi in the West
Over time the cultural expression has made it way to the west. Mehndi has become a trendy thing and been shown in mainstream media. Mehndi is now done at fesitvals/fairs as temporary tattoos. Some people get their bellies painted while pregnant, get it on their back, etc. As well, mehndi has become popular in Western celebrities with appearances in music videos, social media posts and more. Mehndi has also been popularized at "hippie" music festivals such as Coachella and others like it. -
Mehndi as a Reminder of Tradition
In present day, many Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi, Middle Eastern, and other women wear mehndi as a tribute to their culture. It is a tradition their families have continued throughout time and they wear it as a sign of their culture. This is including women who live in South Asia and Middle East, as well as people whose families have moved to the West. These women have brought along their traditions from their home country so they are able to include their culture in their lives now. -
Modern Age Businesses
In the Indian subcontinent, typically a local woman would just be the one to apply henna. However, in the modern age, there are professional mehndi artists who have their own businesses specifically for henna. These businesses are global and people can find artists all over the world. They advertise through people, social media platforms like instagram and facebook, as well as through their businesses website. -
Cultural Appropriation?
Getting mehndi has become a "hipster" or "trendy" thing to do.
Some people argue that it is unfair that many cultural expressions only become acceptable once it becomes trendy or used by Westerns. They think it's unfair that the expression is ostracized when used by the original owners but praised when it becomes the cool thing to do. That double standard is where it becomes unacceptable and appropriation. Many people think respecting the cultural significance and origin behind the art is key. -
Modern Day Mehndi Application
Mehndi paste was originally very basic and came only in it's natural black form, which left an orange/brown stain on the skin. Now mehndi paste comes in all different colours, some people use the colourful ones, while others stick to the original. Also mehndi paste comes in cones that are easy to use. The cones must be refrigerated and can be kept for upto a year. These cones are readily available at local Indian stores or other ethnic stores of the sort. -
Mehndi; A Reflection
Mehndi is the art of applying henna onto your body as a way of body adornment. It is an ancient art form originating from the Indian Subcontinent (Parmar, 2013). Over the years, mehndi has changed a lot in it's application, popularity, etc. As well, Mehndi has become a cultural expression that people all around the world have began to enjoy. It's something that many people can bond over, but it's cultural significance should be kept in mind, so that everyone is able to respectfully enjoy it.
