Henna grows in hot climates and can be found in most Middle Eastern countries such as Iran, Pakistan, Syria, Persia, Morocco, Egypt and India. Indian henna is known to be the best for mehndi. Henna is the Persian name for a shrub known as Lawsonia inermis. It has small, four-petaled flowers ranging from yellow to pink and its leaves produce a red dye. The henna plant (Lawsonia inermis) is 8 to 10 feet high and its leaves are dried and crushed to make henna powder. The henna plant is one of the oldest cosmetics ever used and is extremely safe. Natural henna, when applied to the skin rarely causes any adverse reactions. It has also been used in beauty rituals and customs from time immemorial. A variety of traditions underly the use of henna. The history of henna tattoo design spans many decades and cultures. The alternative to permanent body art has made come back in popularity. The Henna art varies from country to country, spanning different cultures and religious traditions. Henna allows simple method of drawing various designs on the skin without the use of needles. Because henna is a natural stain, it can't be rubbed off or removed with soap and water. The henna plant has been used for medicinal purposes for centuries. One of its main properties is that of a cooling agent.
Many types of people have used henna for centuries. With each new introduction of place and time, the customs have transformed to suit the needs of the people. In recent popular culture, mehndi has enjoyed a renewal.
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Origin, history and tradition
The practice of henna body decoration dates back to Islam. Henna is thought to have first come into use in Egypt for coloring fingertips and finger nails, palms of hands, and soles of feet. One of the earliest documented uses of henna is found in the archeological evidence of Egyptian tombs in the valley of Nile. Mummies of Egyptian rulers and their families were prepared to enter the next world with henna-tinted fingernails. Hieroglyphics names henna as pouquer.
In Middle East, the leaves of the henna plant have been used for centuries as a beautification of the hands and feet. This has been done particularly as religious ritual or during some ceremony. In India, the women utilize it to beautify themselves before big occasions such as wedding and holidays. The traditional patterns mimic a lacy look, like gloves on the hands and arms, and very intricate and ravishing.
Mehndi Tradition in India
Henna's first roots in India are in question. During the reign of Augustus, Emperor of Rome (27 B.C.-A.D. 14), Egypt became an important trade centre for commerce between Rome and India. There are ancient murals in the Ajanta- Ellora caves near Mumabi (old Bombay) dated before A.D. 350 that, remarkably, show a princess of Patliputra reclining under a tree, half asleep, having her hands and feet painted with flowery henna designs. Historians mention that henna may have been brought to India along with Persian horses around A.D 712. What is known is that henna has been cultivated in Rajasthan since around 1476.
Ethnic Significance of Mehndi
The use of mehndi or henna became a significant part of Indian folk art soon after the advent of the Muslims. The orange-red mehandi color was often painted on new brides. The women were painted with intricate designs on order to distinguish them from unmarried young virgins, who were in danger of being kidnapped by the Muslims. From that time onward, it is said that mehandi flourished as decorative art in India. Hindus consider mehandi as very dear to Lakshmi, goddess of wealth and fortune. If ever there was a plant associated with luck and prosperity, it is henna bush.
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