Henna has been used for thousands of years in Africa, India, and the Middle East. It is traditionally applied for weddings, celebrations, and rites of passage using a paste made from crushed henna leaves. The paste is applied to the skin and leaves intricate designs that fade gradually over 1-3 weeks. Henna application styles vary between regions and cultures, with Indians using fine floral patterns, Arabs using large floral hand/foot designs, and Africans preferring bold geometric designs sometimes made black using unsafe methods. Today, henna is widely available commercially but also continues to be an important cultural tradition.

1. CHATNY
MEHNDI design Traditional henna
body art
Monday, October 22, 12

2. Body Painting with Henna History
Henna has been used throughout Africa, India, and the
Middle East for thousands of years.
For centuries, mehndi — the art of henna painting on
the body — has been practiced in India, Africa, and the
Middle East, where the henna plant is believed to bring
love and good fortune, and to protect against evil.
Mehndi is traditionally practiced for wedding
ceremonies, during important rites of passage, and in
times of joyous celebration. A paste made from the
crushed leaves of the henna plant is applied to the skin,
and when removed several hours later, leaves beautiful
markings on the skin that fade naturally over 1 to
3 weeks.
New grind stone Behndi designs
Monday, October 22, 12

3. Henna Use in the Past
As far back as 1200 B.C. the ancient Egyptians were
using henna on their nails and hair. Henna was also
used to dye animal skins, textiles, and men's beards.
Once the henna plant's cooling properties were
discovered, painting the skin became a way for the
desert people of India to cool down their body
temperatures.
There is some historical evidence that henna originated
in ancient India as a ceremonial art form. Others believe
that Henna was introduced to India in the 12th century.
It's been used for at least 5000 years as a cosmetic and
for it's natural healing properties. There's also
documentation that henna was used in ancient Egypt to
stain the fingers and toes of the Pharaohs prior to
mummification.
Monday, October 22, 12

4. The art form of applying mehndi henna
varies from region to region, this ancient practice has
spanned many cultures and traditions. Like all symbols,
the varying designs often mean different things to
different cultures. It's thus possible to recognize
distinctions in cultural style. Arabic designs are
generally large, floral patterns on the hands and feet.
Whereas Indians (from India) traditionally use fine thin
lines for lacy, floral, and paisley patterns which cover
their entire hands, forearms, feet and shins; interestingly
this is often performed as part of a pre marriage ritual.
Africans and Native/South American Indians tend to
prefer bold, large geometric designs done in black.
Africans have been known to apply a paste of ashes,
ammonia compounds, and other corrosives to get the
henna stain from orange to black. This can be
poisonous and is NOT a recommended procedure for
anyone but a highly trained/experienced professional,
Paste Applicators and Design Types
Monday, October 22, 12

5. The art form of applying mehndi henna
varies from region to region, this ancient practice has
spanned many cultures and traditions. Like all symbols,
the varying designs often mean different things to
different cultures. It's thus possible to recognize
distinctions in cultural style. Arabic designs are
generally large, floral patterns on the hands and feet.
Whereas Indians (from India) traditionally use fine thin
lines for lacy, floral, and paisley patterns which cover
their entire hands, forearms, feet and shins; interestingly
this is often performed as part of a pre marriage ritual.
Africans and Native/South American Indians tend to
prefer bold, large geometric designs done in black.
Africans have been known to apply a paste of ashes,
ammonia compounds, and other corrosives to get the
henna stain from orange to black. This can be
poisonous and is NOT a recommended procedure for
anyone but a highly trained/experienced professional,
Paste Applicators and Design Types
Monday, October 22, 12

6. The art form of applying mehndi henna
varies from region to region, this ancient practice has
spanned many cultures and traditions. Like all symbols,
the varying designs often mean different things to
different cultures. It's thus possible to recognize
distinctions in cultural style. Arabic designs are
generally large, floral patterns on the hands and feet.
Whereas Indians (from India) traditionally use fine thin
lines for lacy, floral, and paisley patterns which cover
their entire hands, forearms, feet and shins; interestingly
this is often performed as part of a pre marriage ritual.
Africans and Native/South American Indians tend to
prefer bold, large geometric designs done in black.
Africans have been known to apply a paste of ashes,
ammonia compounds, and other corrosives to get the
henna stain from orange to black. This can be
poisonous and is NOT a recommended procedure for
anyone but a highly trained/experienced professional,
Paste Applicators and Design Types
Monday, October 22, 12

7. The art form of applying mehndi henna
varies from region to region, this ancient practice has
spanned many cultures and traditions. Like all symbols,
the varying designs often mean different things to
different cultures. It's thus possible to recognize
distinctions in cultural style. Arabic designs are
generally large, floral patterns on the hands and feet.
Whereas Indians (from India) traditionally use fine thin
lines for lacy, floral, and paisley patterns which cover
their entire hands, forearms, feet and shins; interestingly
this is often performed as part of a pre marriage ritual.
Africans and Native/South American Indians tend to
prefer bold, large geometric designs done in black.
Africans have been known to apply a paste of ashes,
ammonia compounds, and other corrosives to get the
henna stain from orange to black. This can be
poisonous and is NOT a recommended procedure for
anyone but a highly trained/experienced professional,
Paste Applicators and Design Types
Monday, October 22, 12

8. The perfect Wedding
Monday, October 22, 12

9. Henna Today
Until the art of mehndi
became hot news in 1996,
henna was mostly used in
the United States as a hair
dye.
Widely recognized now as
a wonderful way to dye
the skin and to achieve
the look of a tattoo,
traditional henna uses and
application processes
have gone contemporary.
Although some will always
prepare their own henna
paste, mehndi kits of
varying quality, with
foolproof instructions and
convenient stencils, can
be purchased in many
retail and online outlets
Monday, October 22, 12

10. New colorful Mehndi and Behndi designs.
Monday, October 22, 12

11. Traditional Henna Body Art, an Alternative to Permanent Tattoos.
Monday, October 22, 12

12. GET TO MEHNDI
video 1
video 2
video 3
music video
Mr. Masood Ahmad Parvez
Mr. Benavides
Monday, October 22, 12