What is Henna Tattoo?
Henna artists at the Festival of India will demonstrate the process of applying Henna.
Choose a motif from their catalog, and watch it gloriously recreated on your hands.
Henna is a form of completely organic Herbal temporary tattoo, which lasts for typically 1 -2 weeks.
The history and origin of Henna is hard to trace with centuries of migration and cultural interaction it is difficult to determine where particular traditions began. There is very persuasive evidence that the Neolithic people in Catal Huyuk, in the 7th millennium BC, used henna to ornament their hands.
The earliest civilizations to have used henna include the Babylonians, Assyrians, Sumerians, Semites, Ugaritics and Canaanites. The earliest written evidence that mentions henna specifically used as an adornment for a bride or woman’s special occasion is in the Ugaritic legend of Baal and Anath, inscribed on a tablet dating back to 2100 BC, found in northwest Syria.
The use of Henna in the 4th-5th centuries in the Deccan of western India is clearly illustrated on Bodhisattvas and deities of cave wall murals at Ajanta, and in similar cave paintings in Sri Lanka.
Centuries of migration and cultural interaction make the task of determining henna’s exact origin a complex one. However, historians argue that henna has been used for at least 5,000 years in both cosmetic and healing capacities.
Some researches argue henna originated in ancient India while others claim it was brought to India by Egyptian moghuls in the 12th century C.E. Still others will contend that the tradition of applying henna to the body began in the Middle East and North Africa in ancient times.
There are also several medieval paintings depicting The Queen of Sheba decorated with henna on her journey to meet Solomon.
The art of henna decorating has been practiced in Northern Africa, the Middle East, Southern Asia, and Europe
Mehndi (Henna body art) is an ancient Indian art form which has been performed for generations in India, but has recently been popularized by United States celebrities (e.g. music icon Madonna’s “Ray of Light” music video).
Women in India are traditionally painted henna on their hands and feet. The subject matter is rather abstract, and often incorporates religious and auspicious symbols.
The application of henna to the body is neither painful nor poisonous. When used in body decoration, henna can be thought of as an organically-derived temporary tattooing. Henna simply a method of drawing various designs on the skin without the use of needles. As the skin absorbs and reacts with the henna powder, the skin is actually stained for a period of up to four weeks. Because henna is a natural stain, it can’t be rubbed off or removed with soap and water.
The dye, which is permanent on fabric or wood, lingers anywhere from 2-12 weeks on skin,
In the 12th century, henna painting spread to India. It is on this continent that the art really blossomed.
Traditional Indian designs tend to be very intricate, with dense design and detail. These designs are most often abstract, involving paisley shapes, lines, dots, pictures of fish, peacocks, and people can be found.
Traditionally, friends would apply the intricate designs on the hands and feet of the bride-to-be. Hidden among the tangled, intertwining patterns would be the initials of the bride and groom.
Tagged with: Anath, Ancient India, Ancient Indian Art, Asia And Europe, Auspicious Symbols, Bodhisattvas, Cave Paintings, Cave Wall, Cultural Interaction, Earliest Civilizations, Exact Origin, Henna Body Art, Medieval Paintings, Mehndi Henna, Moghuls, Music Icon, Queen Of Sheba, Symbo, Wall Murals, Western India, Women In India