History of Mehndi

The History of Mehndi

Mehndi, or henna, has a long and ancient history. It’s been around for thousands of years. Mehndi was introduced to India in the 12th century, by the Mughals. At first, it was only used by the rich and ruling families. Eventually, it was liked and used by everyone. As more people started using mehndi, the recipes and patterns became more refined. In 13th and 14th century Persian art women and dancers were displayed with henna painted hands. Arabian countries used mehndi for its cooling properties. Muslims used mehndi since the beginning of Islam. Even Prophet Muhammad colored his bear and hair with mehndi. Egyptians used mehndi to dye the hair and fingernails of their dead, over 5000 years ago.

HISTORY
It is difficult to track the history and origins of mehndi because of centuries of migration and cultural interaction. Even though it is difficult to determine where the traditions began, there is some historical evidence claiming that it originated in ancient India as a ceremonial form of art. The most commonly believed tale is that mehndi was introduced to India by the Mughals. It has been used for at least 5000 years for its cosmetic and healing properties. Documentation proves that the ancient Egyptians stained the fingers and toes of their Pharoahs prior to mummification. Mehndi application methods and designs became more sophisticated as its uses spread. In 17th century India, the barber’s wife usually applied henna on women. Most women from that time, in India, are depicted with their hands and feet adorned with henna, regardless of their social class and marital status.

OTHER USES
Besides being the key ingredient in mehndi, henna has also been used to dye the manes and hooves of horses;  to color wool, silk, and animal skins; and to color men’s beards. Studies of mummies dating back to 1200 BC show that henna was used on the hair and nails of the pharaohs. When the henna plant’s cooling properties were discovered it became very common for the desert people in India to paint their skin and cool down their body temperatures.

MEHNDI TODAY
The intricate designs that are common today emerged only in the 20th century. Mehndi was used in the U.S. as a hair dye until it became popular back in 1996. Traditional henna uses and applications have been replaced with contemporary designs and especially Arabic mehndi. Even though a few people still prepare their own mehndi, mehndi kits and cones have become very popular. Cones have made the application process faster and easier. Convenient stencils are also widely popular. Mehndi, once sacred, has now become misused and applied all over the body, especially by Westerners. The West sees mehndi as a temporary “tattoo.” However, most of the world has given up traditional designs for the more contemporary Arabic styles, leaving traditional mehndi only for brides. Luckily, there are still few who keep this traditional method alive.

History of Mehndi

The History of Mehndi

We humans are fascinated with body decoration right since the beginning of life on earth. It is believed that early human cave dwellers braided seashells into their hair and wore bone necklaces. This art kept on improving with time and later Stone Age civilizations painted their hair and bodies with plant and mineral dyes. This colouring of bodies suggested group membership or rank which they belonged to. Gradually, symbolic body painting or colouring became a magical part of hunting rituals, religious festivals, and ceremonies. 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 IndiaHenna'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.

The History of Mehndi

The art of applying henna in hands and feet is known as Mehendi and it is a very old custom and ancient art form of the Asian subcontinent. The propagators were the Mughals. The Mughals taught us all about the history of Mehendi and introduced it to India during 12th century AD. During that period the royal and rich use to decorate themselves with it. The patterns were intricately made by the artists or the beauticians. Indian weddings are incomplete without the mehendi ceremony .

The ritual of mehendi ceremony is followed in every part of the country where the hands of the bride are adorned with the lovely red color of the mehendi. On these festive or wedding occasions mostly traditional Indian designs are made on the hands of the bride.

The origin can be from Egypt because it was one of the art forms in Egypt. It has the evidence that it has been found that henna was used to stain the fingers and toes of Pharaohs earlier to mummification. The mummification process took many days and as the Egyptians were diligent in planning their rebirth after their death, they became quite fanatical in the preservation process. The Egyptians believed that body art ensured their recognition into the afterlife and therefore used Mehendi to identify them.

Henna has the power of medicine  was also used as a cosmetic and for it's healing power for ages.The beautiful patterning prevalent in India today has emerged only in the 20th century. India, most of the women from that time in India is depicted with their hands and feet with red stain designs. The art of Mehendi has existed for centuries. No exact place of its origin is identified because of people in different cultures moving through the continents and taking their art forms with them and therefore sharing their art with everyone along the way.

The bushes can be grown in dry and hot conditions. The leaves are processed as a skin conditioner and as a reliever for rashes. The henna used for mehndi comes from a bush which is grown in the Africa and India called Lawsonia Inermis in the Middle East and other hot and dry places. Henna is used for hair dye and as a conditioner. The art of Mehndi is referred to as henna or mehndi

Mehndi is a substitute for tattooing for people who are too scared to tolerate the poking of a needle. Mehendi will be wonderful for such people. Some people like permanent tattoos and some are comfortable with temporary forms of body art. When you use henna to decorate your body it cools your body too.

Henna patterns will be beautiful and have four different styles.

1. The Middle Eastern style is mostly made up of floral patterns similar to the Arabic paintings.
2. The North African style follows the shape of the hands and feet using floral patterns.
3. The Indian and Pakistani designs include lines patterns and teardrops.
4. The Indonesian and Southern Asian styles were a mix of Middle Eastern and Indian designs using blocks of color on the very tips of their toes and fingers.