The Art of Mehndi

Mehndi is a traditional Indian practice of creating temporary skin decoration on the hands, arms, and legs with henna. It is commonly applied by women during festivals and marriages. This past week I spent 3 days in Gujarat at a double wedding (my friend's two daughters both got married in a single grand celebration).

The first night of festivities was kicked off with the female family members getting their mehndi done. While most got simple designs on just their hands and forearms, the two brides received elaborate, exquisite artwork that was so dense, it could be mistaken for full-armed gloves and over-the-calf socks from a distance.

Viewing the mehdni patterns up close is nothing short of an awe-inspiring experience, causing you to marvel at the depth of detail that has been created by an artisan with a simple conical tube resembling an icing dispenser. I've seen mehndi done in various parts of the country, but these artisans seemed to have a technique that enabled them to create extraordinarily intricate patterns. I imagine this is because of the practice of embroidery that is prevalent in this region.

Designs include flowers, geometric patterns, and even romantic depictions of characters reminiscent of Laila and Majnu (the Eastern version of Romeo and Juliette). The artisans also hide the name of the groom within the design, creating an enjoyable challenge for friends and family to find it.

The process of applying mehndi ranges from about 20 minutes for a simple design on a single hand on both sides, to 5 hours for a full bridal treatment. The mehndi must remain on the skin for about two hours to make a lasting impression. During this time, a mixture of lemon juice and sugar is applied to darken the tone. Although some say it is the quality of the mehndi that is responsible for the darkness of the application, others believe it is strength of the husband's love that determines how dark it becomes....

See a photostream here with other pictures of the mehndi ceremony in Gujarat.