Mehndi
form of body art originating in ancient India
Mehndi or mehendi is a form of temporary skin decoration using a paste created with henna. It is a popular form of body art in the Indian Subcontinent and resembles similar traditions of henna as body art found in North Africa, East Africa and the Middle East. In the West, mehndi is commonly known as henna tattoo. The standard color of mehndi is brown, but other design colors such as white, red, black and gold are sometimes used.
In the Indian Subcontinent, mehndi is traditionally applied during many celebrations, especially weddings, religious festivals, and family ceremonies. It is applied on hands, wrists and forearms and in feet, ankles and lower legs. In many communities, it is often extended up to and above the elbows and knees. Common motifs include flowers, vines and leaves, paisleys, peacocks, mandalas, religious symbols, and the names or initials of the bride and groom hidden within the design.
"Mehndi" is a term used amongst the Indian Subcontinent, whereas 'henna" is used more commonly in the Middle East. Designs and patterns are distinct from region to region.
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This entry incorporates text from “Mehndi” on English Wikipedia. Contributors are listed in the page history. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Selected authority identifiers and statements are retrieved from Wikidata under CC0; their references and qualifiers remain part of the verification path.