Mehndi body art has ancient roots in the Asian subcontinent (India, Pakistan, Bangladesh), most Arab countries, and in Northern Africa.  Overwhelmingly, it has traditionally been used as a women’s celebratory practice in preparation for weddings and festive holidays.  In some areas, by far a minority, men may also have small decorations on their faces or plain henna treatments on their  hands and feet.  In India, women gather for “Mehndi night” before weddings.  They decorate each others’ hands and feet, with the bride receiving intricate designs up to the elbows and knees.  Moroccan brides are given embroidered mitts and booties that protect the design throughout the night.  Indian folk lore states that a bride with deep, rich mehndi color will truly love her husband and will have good relations with her in-laws.  She is also exempt from housework while the color lasts.

Designs and mixes vary regionally, reflecting local raw materials and traditional patterns used in textiles, crafts and architecture.  Indian, Pakistani and many Arab countries lean towards floral and organic forms.  Moroccans prefer bold geometric contrasts, often using stencils echoing tile work and lattice shapes.  Egyptians simply stain the bottoms of their feet and the palms of their hands red.  From big red dots to fine, intricate work, henna skin dyeing predates Biblical history and has even been found on the fingertips of Egyptian mummies!!!

The designs appear to have little symbolic meaning, with most native Indians referring to it as a practice of adornment and celebration.  However, they do mention that henna is considered to have a cooling effect, lowering one’s blood pressure.  Sir Richard Burton, explorer of the origin of the Nile, recounted in his memoirs that they would use a henna wash as a sunscreen when traveling through desert areas. Aside from practical aspects, perhaps the color originally had significance.  Many cultures use red as a protection against the evil eye.  The Moroccan hand of Fatima, a protection amulet, usually bears designs resembling Mehndi Body Art.  Symbolic content may have been lost over the centuries. Yet, most women using mehndi, live in hot climates where they modestly expose little of their bodies.  If hands and feet can be exposed, why not decorate them?