Mehndi
Mehndi (ⓘ) is a form of temporary skin decoration using a paste created with henna. In the West, mehndi is commonly known as henna tattoo, although it is not a permanent tattoo.
Mehndi is a popular form of body art in South Asia and resembles similar traditions of henna as body art found in North Africa, East Africa and the Middle East. There are many different names for mehndi across the languages of South Asia.
There are many different designs and forms of mehndi, often known as henna. For celebrations, women traditionally apply mehndi to their hands and feet, however some people, such as cancer sufferers and women with alopecia, may also decide to adorn their scalps. Rich brown is the most popular henna color, which is produced using a natural dye made from the Lawsonia inermis plant. But modern patterns now incorporate hues like white, red, black, and gold, enabling more individualized and varied artistic expressions.
In South Asia, mehndi is applied on the body during both Hindu and Muslim weddings. Hindu women apply mehndi during festivals like Karva Chauth, Vat Purnima, Diwali, Bhai Dooj, Navratri, Durga Puja, and Teej. Muslim women apply mehndi during occasions like Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha.
At Hindu and Sikh festivals, women often have henna applied to their hands, feet and sometimes the backs of their shoulders. Conversely, men usually have it applied on their arms, legs, back, and chest. For women, it is usually drawn on their palms, backs of their hands and on feet, where the design will be clearest due to contrast with the lighter skin on these surfaces, which naturally contains less of the pigment melanin.