Adiba Khatun scopes the practice of mehndi and its significance in South Asian weddings.
I’m looking at South Asian weddings from every aspect, and this article is all about mehndi.
What is this exotic word you say? Firstly mehndi, otherwise known as henna is a kind of plant-based paste which is traditionally used to temporarily stain the hands and feet with intricate floral designs.
The art of henna is extremely difficult to master. It requires a very steady hand, all the while being able to squeeze out the paste from an applicator at the same time as painting a design. Yet mehndi has become so popular that entire companies are now devoted to this increasingly lucrative practice.
Bridal henna consists of elaborate designs running from the bride’s fingers tips up to her elbows, as well as a full covering of feet and ankles. Clients and artists often agree to add an element of humour, for example hiding the groom’s name within the detailed mehndi designs.
Bridal henna does not come cheap, with prices starting at £100 and rising to £300 and over. But applying henna is a very laborious and time consuming task, so these prices are not unreasonable.
The use of henna is traditional; but even now the tradition is changing. Only 20 years ago, henna was normally a plain, solid colour applied uniformly over the palms: the intricate designs of today are a new fashion!
A South Asian mother of three who was married 27 years ago recalls that ‘after applying the mehndi on one hand, they told me to press my hands together to spread it to my other hand’. Quite different to what henna is today. And in her day, the groom was expected to do the same -a much less common feature in South Asian weddings today.
The art of henna has only really taken shape in recent years, despite its tradition originating from many generations ago. Henna has created many dream jobs for aspiring and established henna artists of all ages, as it really is an impressive skill. It takes years to fully master and the end result can be very satisfying for both the artist and the bride.
It is common for the women of the family to join the bride in applying the mehndi on the big day. Not only is mehndi considered a medium for beautifying oneself within South Asian culture, it is also used as a form of bonding and socialising.