Henna, known as Mehndi in India, is an ink made from the henna plant and used in Indian and other Eastern cultures for the creation of temporary tattoos. These henna tattoos are applied in celebration of a variety of festivals and ceremonies, especially in Indian weddings and religious gatherings like Diwali. The color of the henna dye is a rich brown, mahogany hue that stains the skin’s pigment to leave a stain that lasts for several days. These “tattoos” applied to the hands and feet highlight different cultural symbols and reflect Indian tradition, history, and mythology.

This specialty style of art goes back over 5000 years ago. One of the reasons this style of tattooing is so popular goes beyond the intricate designs but more so the expression of happiness and luck that these markings provide. In addition to just getting these tattoos, people use henna tattoos in weddings, Blessingways, battle and child birth.

Because henna designs are known for their intricacy and beauty, many chose to permanently tattoo these images onto the skin in order to preserve the image. The designs are made of delicate line work, woven together to create artwork that reflects Indian culture. Much like a mandala design, which is often included in henna tattoos, the lines interconnect and expand out, forming various symbols. Common images used in traditional designs are beaming suns, flowers and mandalas, arches and dotted patterns, peacocks and their plumage, as well as lotus flowers.

Shapes such as triangles, circles, and stars are included as representations of the divine and supreme deities in Hinduism, the ancient religion of India. Triangles are symbols of Shiva and Shakti, two of the most prominent deities in mythology and serve as a representation of their awesome power. Diamond shapes often accompany the triangles, emphasizing the magnitude of the gods and goddesses as well as the journey towards enlightenment. Sun, moons, stars, and other celestial images are also common and represent love and partnership, often made prominent for wedding ceremonies.