Mehndi is a beautiful art form of skin decoration known to be having its roots in the ancient culture of India, Africa and Middle East.
Since ages, the art form is being carried on from one generation to another with hands full of significance’s including aesthetics, cultural and medicinal.
Talking about the aesthetic significance of mehndi, it is one of the most enticing forms of physical adornment that is mainly carried on weddings and festive occasions. However, nowadays women even wear mehndi just for fun and beauty enhancement. It is mostly applied on palms, back of hand and feet with each part of beauty adornment signifying its distinctive beliefs. When mehndi is applied on palms it is known to raise offerings of love and devotion, when applied on the back of the hand it is known to act as a shield of protection from evil powers and negative energies and when the mehndi is used as an adornment for feet it is known to serve as a divine contact between humans and the mother earth.
Since ages, mehndi is used as an integral part of Indian traditions. On weddings, festivals and special occasions like raksha bandhan, teej and karva chauth, different styles and designs of mehndi are used to radiate the essence of religious and cultural beliefs. It is believed to be deeply associated with marriage symbolizing fertility and intensity of love. The color of mehndi or the darkness achieved after removing the mehndi paste signifies the intensity of love that the husband will have for the bride. Furthermore, the duration of mehndi or how long the mehndi stays signifies the affection and warmth the mother-in-law will have for the bride. Adding to these, there are many other beliefs associated with eternal blessings, love, prosperity and happiness for the newly wedded couple. The wedding ceremony is always characterized by a mehndi ceremony that adds a spark of glamour, fun, beauty, warmth and love to the bonding that is to be connected for seven births as per the Indian customs. It is also said that a woman looks most beautiful on her wedding day as she beholds a natural glow on that day and elegant mehndi designs on her palm and feet are said to enhance her beauty with a touch of class and elegance.
Mehndi or henna also has many medicinal values apart from cultural and aesthetic significance. It is popularly known as a natural hair color and conditioner to deliver a soft and lustrous look to human hair. Furthermore, the cooling effect of the mehndi acts as a natural cure for headaches, stress, fever, anger and burning feet. It also serves as an antiseptic agent that helps fight against infections, keeping away bruises and cuts. Adding to this, another most important medicinal property of mehndi is improving blood circulation, keeping the wearer especially bride hale and hearty all through her wedding period.
April 18, 2014 in Mehndi Designs.