Beauty

This is how different regions in India do mehandi designs

by Hasina Khatib

October 13, 2018

Tracing the traditional henna’s history

Mehandi-designs-in-different-cultures-in-India — Image: Signe Vilstrup

Think of mehandi, and you’ll probably be taken down am instant nostalgia trip featuring late nights with your girl gang in the middle of a typical big fat Indian wedding celebration, nuanced with the rich, earthy aromas of henna. From smudging your first design by accidentally scratching your nose halfway through, to learning how to position a mehandi cone the right way to create your own personal work of art, it comes as little surprise that this traditional form of body art enjoys a prized position in Indian festivals and weddings alike.

Now, while the allure of mehandi is universal, its nuances run deep across cultures, and it is often considered to be one of the crucial steps of the traditional solah shringar ritual as well. Anushka Sharma’s fairytale wedding in Florence, Italy, had her sitting pretty in a vibrant Sabyasachi lehenga with a richly detailed symmetrical pattern occupying prime real estate on her hands, while beau Virat Kohli sportingly chipped in with a circular pattern on his palms as well. The gorgeous Bong bride, Bipasha Basu Singh Grover opted for a lattice-inspired design that left her fingertips free to complement her nude manicure, while Mira Rajput Kapoor opted for minimalist motifs with a rhinestone-studded design adorning her ankles. Here is how the intricacies of the traditional henna designs differ between the regions in the country.

Rajasthani mehandi designs

Image: Instagram.com/mehndi_by_nazwa

Although not exclusive to the Marwaris, the dulha-dulhan designs find a huge fan in Western India, with exquisitely stencilled illustrations of an archetypal raja and his bride being incorporated in the mehandi designs, usually across the palms of the hands. More elaborate renditions include the queen in all her bridal finery, accompanied by a sitar.

Bengali mehandi designs

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The traditional alta, a form of red dye produced from betel leaves and vermillion, scores precedence over henna or mehandi in Eastern India. Bengali brides have especially been known to favour circular motifs on their palms and fingertips for weddings and festivals like Durga Puja, with the red pigments coordinating in unison with the traditional red border of their native Garad saris.

Tamilian mehandi designs

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Also known as maruthani, you’ll usually find a single mandala, or circular motif, occupying the centre of the palm, and serving as the centre around which the rest of the design is based. Coloured fingertips are another recurring favourite with brides, with a web of lattice work and symmetrical patterns spread across both hands complementing the central motif.

Maharashtrian mehandi designs

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Rich on tradition and steeped in heritage, you’ll find a distinct ethnic flavour adorning the mehandi designs here. Peacock-inspired designs have worked as an eternal favourite through the generations, with scallops and paisley patterns ranking in as a close second. Enterprising brides are also known to opt for bespoke embroidery-inspired designs to mirror the pallu of the traditional Nauvari sari.

Kashmiri mehandi designs

Image: Instagram.com/hennabydivya

Rife with Middle-Eastern influences, you’ll find the Arabic penchant for minimalism dominating the designs in this region. The use of negative space is leveraged with great success, especially for the back of the hand, with one-sided floral patterns flowing in smooth harmony from the wrist to the ring finger. However, they aren’t afraid to pull out all stops when it comes to bridal mehandi either, with ombre shading highlighting the intricate designs oftentimes.

Punjabi mehandi designs

Image: Instagram.com/aneesa7283

Never one to do things half-measure, the diktat for bridal or festive mehandi in the Punjabi culture is usually ‘elbow-length or nothing.’ Born to a Punjabi-speaking father, Sonam K Ahuja’s recent nuptials included a grand mehandi ceremony with the blushing bride-to-be sporting elaborately etched designs on her hands and feet, with thick, bold strokes upping the ante on the feminine florals—all the better for that darker payoff of colour the next morning.