Tattoo

The history of the emergence of mehendi

What is Mehendi? The history of the emergence of mehendi.

Mehendi is a popular type of bodypainting today that came from the East. Translated from Hindi means “henna”. The decoration technique got its name due to the fact that it is performed exclusively with henna and is a kind of ornament endowed with an aesthetic or sacral meaning..

The history of mehendi - photo examples of henna drawings

The history of mehendi – photo examples of henna drawings

History of mehendi

In general, the history of applying various drawings, wounds, tattoos to the body is quite ancient and was known in the Paleolithic era, when it was required to protect oneself from the influence of external forces, as well as to show one’s belonging to a particular tribe..

The history of the emergence of mehendi is 5000 years old. The drawing applied to the body with henna was known in the countries of the East, such as Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, India, and the Arabian Peninsula. Ancient people realized that henna is able to protect from the scorching sun, and therefore, they smeared the exposed parts of the body in henna, thus providing its protection. Also in Asian countries, henna was used as an antiseptic. In ancient Egypt, henna was used during life – women of noble birth made patterns on their hands and nails, covered the chin and part of the face with a pattern. Men also used mehendi – they wore an image of a hoopoe at their temples – a symbol of virtuous love. And also henna was used in the rite of mummification, the palms and feet of the pharaoh were stained with it. Henna drawings were supposed to help the deceased get into the afterlife. The tradition of Mehendi or Mehndi came to Ancient India in the sixth century BC and spread among the noble castes. Indian women first decorated their palms with henna, and later began to apply it to the whole body, creating a complex intricate ornament.

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In addition to aesthetic functions, henna drawing was an element of a sacred rite. It was used in ceremonies that are important in a person’s life, for example, at a wedding. It was believed that the more interesting and richer the drawing, the happier the life of the newlyweds will be. Special styles and ornaments with a specific meaning were also developed. Henna has a special emollient property that has a good effect on the skin of the hands, especially in hot and dry climates. In addition, the drawing attracts the eye during the performance of the dance and can serve as an element of it. After all, dance in India is a whole language system. In the dance, the performer leads the story, and every detail is important. In India, mehendi is also part of the wedding ceremony. Moreover, it is applied to both the bride and the groom. It is believed that until the drawing is erased, the young wife cannot do the housework, which is understandable – in the culture of India, the first days after the wedding, the young woman should spend time with her husband’s relatives in order to better get acquainted with the peculiarities and traditions of the family into which she entered.

Mehendi in Europe

Since the nineteenth century, mehendi has penetrated the countries of Europe, thanks to the British colonies in India. Where it spreads along with other phenomena of the cultures of the East. But due to the fragility of the drawing and the complexity of its execution, this type of decoration did not gain popularity..

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Mehendi today

In the 90s of the twentieth century, the history of the emergence of mehendi is experiencing a real peak of popularity, salons for the execution of this pattern appear, new stylized ornaments are created.

Today, the mehendi drawing is popular in Russia, which actively cultivates the traditions of India, the Arabian Peninsula and, of course, Europe. Unfortunately, mehendi is basically a tribute to fashion, where stylistic features and sacred meanings of symbols are not always taken into account. But on the other hand, the special aesthetics of the drawing and the healing properties of henna contribute to the consolidation of this tradition and the need for its study..

Photo examples of mehendi:

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Prepared by: lena1377 (Lena Bloshenko)