Thursday, September 29, 2022

Mehndi Traditions in Subcontinent-Origin And History

 Mehndi is considered an integral part of festive events in many parts of the world, especially in the subcontinent. During festivals, women indulge in decorative patterns and floral Mehndi Designs to express their joy and happiness. Mehndi gives a sense of completion to the festive events and symbolizes celebration. But have you ever wondered how mehndi became a part of our tradition, and how important it is before a wedding? Read on to find out!

The Origins of Mehndi

Mehndi is made by crushing the leaves of the Henna Plant. It is a type of shrub which is known for its medicinal properties. It has been used in various regions.

Mehndi has an old history. The earliest use of this plant dates back to the Pharaohs, somewhere around 9000 years ago. It was used to dye the hair and nails of Pharaohs and also for the mummification process. Cleopatra, the last queen of Egyptian civilization, was known to use henna to beautify herself.

Mehndi reached the subcontinent as late as around 1200 A.D., during the Mughal Regime. The royals from the Mughal family were the ones that brought and introduced mehndi to the locals of the subcontinent.


Significance In The Subcontinent

The subcontinent may have been divided, but the traditions and customs are more or less the same. Though the people of the subcontinent have separate borders, they share more or less the same customs and traditions. Mehndi has become a tradition not only in Pakistan and India but also in many parts of the world. Mehndi is an important part of any festival, be it Eid, weddings, or specifically the Mehndi function (Mayoon).

There are many mehndi designs available to choose from for each festive event. While you can find many stunning designs, the most popular ones among others are Pakistani, Indian, Arabic, and African designs. The Pakistani and Indian mehndi designs have a detailed style, while the Arabic designs are known for their fewer details and big motifs.

The Significance of Mehndi Before a Wedding

In Pakistan and India, the mehndi holds significant importance before a wedding ceremony. In Pakistan and neighboring countries, a pre-wedding ceremony is held a day or two before the wedding ceremony, called the Mehndi ceremony or Mayoon. In Mayoon, the female members of both families gather and apply Mehndi to the hands and feet of the bride.

No doubt, Mehndi is used for beautification. However, applying mehndi before the wedding underlies deep scientific reasons. Henna is applied for its medicinal and cooling properties. Mehndi is applied to the palms, hands, wrists, and feet of the bride as there are nerve endings to relieve the bride from any stress before her big day.

Assumptions Regarding Mehndi

Mehndi is an existing tradition with an old history. Therefore, a lot of assumptions and misconceptions have arisen regarding mehndi. The most popular assumption is regarding the longevity and color of the mehndi. It is said that the darker the color of the bride’s mehndi, the more love and care she will receive from her in-laws, especially the groom.

While the reality is that the lasting of the Bride’s mehndi while visiting her parent's house after the wedding was a sign that her in-laws are loving and caring.

Conclusion

Mehndi has traveled through time and is adopted as a part of our tradition. It symbolizes joy and happiness for us and is an integral part of our festive events. Though it embodies joy and happiness, we cannot neglect its medicinal properties. The use of mehndi is pretty prominent among us, and so are the assumptions and our emotional attachments toward mehndi.

Mehndi is applied not only during weddings but also during other festivals. There are a lot of mehndi designs, each for different festivals. If there is a wedding in your family or you are planning to get mehndi tattoos for any festival, you can find great Mehndi Designs Here. What design are you planning to get on your big day? Do let me know by commenting below.

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