Henna, or Lawsonia inermis, is the Arabic name for an evergreen perennial that grows primarily within the North Africa, Middle East and South Asian regions. The leaves of the henna tree have been used as a dye for thousands of years. The Hindu practice of mehndi in northern India is ancient and is still used today. Mehndi was one of the earliest methods of tattooing. Decorating the body with henna originated in parts of the Middle East and North Africa, and wasn’t introduced to India until the 12th century. Since then, mehndi has been used to celebrate various occasions, especially weddings. On the eve of the wedding, the women of the wedding party would gather to apply henna all over the bride’s hands and feet. the red pigment of the stain left behind signified prosperity and strength within the marriage. the deeper the stain, the happier the marriage would be. another belief was that the deeper the pigment, the more the mother-in-law would love her new daughter.
another tradition is that the groom’s name is inscribed somewhere within the intricate designs. if he cannot find his name within his wife’s hands, she is considered the more dominant figure in the marriage.
