Friday 5 July 2013

Mehndi Design

Mehndi Design Biography

Source(Google.com.pk)
The art of henna (called mehndi in Hindi & Urdu) has been practiced for over  5000 years in Pakistan, India, Africa and the Middle East.There is some documentation that it is over 9000 years old.  Because henna has natural cooling properties, people of the desert, for centuries, have been using henna to cool down their bodies.  They make a paste of henna and soak their palms and soles of the feet in it to get an air conditioning affect.  They feel it's cooling senstaion throughout the body for as long as the henna stain remains on their skin.  Initially, as the stain faded away, it left patterns on the skin surface which led to ideas to make designs for decorative purposes.  In the ancient Egyptian times mummies wore henna designs and it is documented that Cleopatra herself used henna for decorative purposes.
Henna was not only a popular adornment for the rich but the poor, who could not afford jewelry, used it to decorate their bodies as well.Today people all over the world have adopted the ancient traditions of adorning their bodies with the beautiful natural artwork created from the henna plant.  It became a very popular form of temporary body decoration in the 90's in the US and has become a growing trend ever since.  Celebrities like Madonna, Gwen Stefani, Yasmine Bleeth, Liv Tyler, Xena, and many others proudly adorn their bodies with henna and show them off in public, movies, videos, etc. People throughout the west have adopted the eastern tradition in their lives by having their hands and feet painted for weddings, bellies painted while in pregnancy, heads adorned with henna while going through chemotherapy, scars camouflaged to make them unnoticeable, etc.The Art of Mehndi provides a basic primer on the art of Mehndi body painting, from lists of needed supplies to instructions on how to make your own henna paste for producing them. Sample designs and tips on original designs are geared to young adult audiences but many an adult interested in body painting will find this excellent.A good overview for young readers that has a little bit about the history of Mehndi, plus the how-to in an easy to understand format. It has a few design ideas, some good "recipes" and resources for materials. It also has reminders to ask permission from parents. Overall, a fun activity book that encourages creativity. Adults might enjoy it too, especially at such a reasonable price!Henna body art, the art of painting the skin with wonderful henna paste in attractive designs, is the latest fashion fad among the gen X, though it is a centuries old tradition and it is increasingly being followed even by westerners. Henna tattoos and body art is quite exotic by western standards but in eastern culture it is a regular feature in social and religious ceremonies. One of the most important benefits of henna is that it is not permanent and so one doesn't get stuck with one design and pattern for life. For many, getting body art with henna is a natural form of expressing their thoughts and feelings. Many people, including actors and models are opting for henna body art as it is safe and looks so sensual. Not just on body, henna is also applied on hair for the natural red highlights and also to put a permanent stop on all kinds of hair problems like dandruff, hair loss, etc. To create beautiful henna art on your body, all you require is henna paste and a dab of creativity. To know more on the history of henna continue reading the write-up.The tradition of using henna for adorning the body had been prevalent for many centuries. Ancient Egyptians were believed to have used henna for a wide range of purposes, like staining their nails, hands and hair. Even in the Assyrian, Babylonian, Sumerian and Semite civilizations, henna was used extensively as dyes. In countries like Morocco, Turkey, Iraq and Saudi Arabia, getting the body painted with henna is considered to be very sacred as it is believed to bring luck, prosperity and happiness. In fact, in Morocco, pregnant women get their ankles colored with henna to shield them from the 'evil eye' during child birth.Marriages and henna in the Indian subcontinent have had a long relationship and the tradition can be traced back to several centuries. There are special mehendi ceremonies held prior to weddings where the bride-to-be is adorned with henna designs. The mehendi ceremonies are considered to be auspicious and, it is believed, strengthen the bond between the husband and wife. Henna was also used in religious ceremonies in ancient Egypt and Greece.Basically, there are four categories of henna tattoos. The Middle Eastern style, comprising mostly of large floral patterns, is heavily influenced by Arabian paintings and carvings. The African style is characterized by geometrical designs and big outlines. The third category is the Indian and Pakistani style, which are highly intricate and elaborate. Lastly, the Southeast Asian or Indonesian style is an amalgamation of both Indian and Middle Eastern designs. All these styles are an integral feature of any traditional henna body art and, nowadays, their allure is only increasing. Among the rising henna art are Celtic designs with deeper and significant meanings, which look magical and is considered divine.

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