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MEHENDI
Mehendi,
a common shrub is known to have been in use in all parts of the world since
time immemorial. The traditional way of painting hand and feet with mehendi
is still popular especially among brides.
 Decorating
the bride's hand and feet with the application of henna or mehendi is symbolic
of the auspicious occasion. Besides decorating the hands and feet it is a popular
dye to colour hair. It is also used as a home remedy for various minor ailments.
In
North India, application of mehendi is a common custom. For them this is an
auspicious day before the wedding.
The
application of mehendi is an art that is fascinating and exciting . A combination
of geometrical and floral patterns are used in this decorative art.
Preparation
and Application
Fresh
leaves of the plant are ground into a fine paste, a little lemon juice and water
are added to it to get the desire consistency for application. Nowadays mehendi
in powdered form is also available. A fine paste is prepared with the
powder and lemon juice. Tea or coff ee
is added to it to increase the intensity of colouration.
In
the past, mehendi was applied with the help of small sticks. But today, plastic
cones are used instead of stick and the mehendi paste can be pressed out in
the shape of a fine strand through its nozzle.
After
the formation of design, the mehendi is allowed to dry, for more
intense and durable colouration it should be kept for five to six hours.
During this time the drying paste is prevented from flaking off by periodic
dabbling of a cotton soaked in a mixture of lemon juice and sugar.
TIP
To
make a Mehendi cone,
Ingredients
: One pack mehendi powder, enough water to make a thick paste, extract of two
lemon, eucalyptus oil - 1 teaspoon, strong black tea -2 teaspoons.
Sieve
the dry mehendi powder and add all the above mentioned ingredients and keep
it for seven hours. Then fill the paste into a thick plastic cover and tie it
tightly. Make a small hole with a pin at the tip of the cone. The fine mehendi
paste can be squeezed out in a thin strand.
MODERN
METHODS
Few
modern methods are adopted to suit the women who cannot spare five to
six hours for putting mehendi. Z ardosi
mehendi is the most popular method which is in tune with today's fast life.
By this method one can sport beautiful designs on the hands and feet with different
colours according to the persons choice in 30 minutes. The art of putting zardosi
is the same as mehendi- a specially prepared black herbal henna is filled in
a paper cone. With this the design is drawn on the hand and feet. After twenty
minutes it can be washed off. This leaves a black imprint which can be later
filled with different colours, nail polish, glitter sprinkles etc. to make it
more colourful. This gives a tattoo effect on the hands and feet, and it lasts
only for a few days.
Apart
from this, computer graphic designs are also used with the
traditional mehendi designs. Traditional Arabic designs of mehendi have
now become popular in India. Wonderful designs make the art of mehendi more
attractive and beautiful.
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