If you’ve heard of a Mehndi wedding you might ask, “What
is Mehndi?” It’s actually a small tropical shrub which can be ground into a
paste when dried to create a rusty-red pigment, but it is also known as the practice
of painting elaborate henna patterns on the skin. When all this comes together, the pigment from the Mehndi is
used to create temporary mehndi wedding tattoos in Hindu weddings. It is applied at the Mehndi Ceremony which takes place the night before
the Vivaah (marriage) in a
celebration for the bride’s side of the family. For this party, a
professional Mehndi artist or family member applies the Mehndi in
intricate designs on the hands and feet of the bride and other women in the
family. Today, Hindus often use the terms mehendi and marriage interchangeably.
Meaning behind Mehndi tattoos
Much that is involved in the Mehndi wedding holds
special significance and meaning. In the case of these Mehndi tattoo designs, they
symbolize joy, beauty, spiritual awakening, and offering, but beyond that they
signify the prosperity the bride will bring to her husband. And it’s more than
an artistic expression. For a Hindu Vivaah,
it plays such a vital role in a number of the rites during the nuptials that if
there is no Mehendi, there is no wedding!
Superstitions behind the Mehndi wedding tattoos
While the Mehndi plant creates a rusty color pigment,
it is considered a good sign for the newlyweds if the wife’s tattoos are
created by deeply colored designs. Among Hindu women, it is commonly believed
that the darker the design on the bride’s palms, the more her mother-in-law
will love her! Another bonus for a darker imprint is that the new bride isn’t
expected to do any household chores until her wedding Mehndi fades.