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Mehndi Designs - Epitomizing the good thing about Body Art
On the broad basis, Mehndi designs are of two kinds - Indian and Arabic. While Indian designs tend to be more intricate, Arabic designs are bolder. Indian designs contain fine work which fills your whole palm. Peacocks, mangos and flowers are the most common figures used in Indian designs. Indian bridal mehndi is a lot more intricate. Traditionally, the groom's name is artistically hidden on the bride's palm amidst the elaborate designs. Also, pictures of marriage processions complete with bridal palanquin, groom on the horse, musical instruments and musicians playing traditional instruments are drawn on the hands. A bridal design usually extends as much as the elbows or even higher. Another common practice in bridal Indian designs is depiction of sacred pictures for example om, swastika and Lord Ganesha. The whole hand is stuffed with beautiful designs and very little area of the hand remains blank.
Arabic mehndi designs are very different. Typically, there isn't much intricacy in these designs, large outlines are drawn and also the inner space is filled with lines and dots. Flowers and mango shaped designs are the most commonly used. Quite in contrast to Indian designs, the Arabic ones will not pay for the whole hand. Some area of the hand is left blank. The beauty of these designs arrives because of these blank spaces which highlight the bold designs. Arabic designs are popularly requested festivals and processes.
The most popular design of the current times is the fusion between Indian and Arabic styles, referred to as Indo-Arabic mehndi. Bold Arabic figures are first drawn and also the inside space is filled with elaborate Indian designs. These hybrid designs are incredibly eye catchy and unique. More and more people prefer these designs now since they look chic, yet ethnic and traditional.
Culturally, application of mehndi is extremely significant. Apart from being very appealing visually, the herb has strong medicinal properties. Being strongly antiseptic anyway, mehndi protects against infections. Because of this , why mehndi is applied on the palms and feet of brides as well as grooms. Definitely, we wouldn't want the bride to be and groom to fall sick prior to wedding. Exactly the same pertains to festivals and processes.
In Andhra Pradesh, it is a custom to use mehndi a minimum of 3 times during the hindu month of Shravan, which coincides with the rainy season. Since water borne infections are high in this season, menhdi acts as a shield. Fresh leaves are ground and also the paste is used on palms and feet for men and women, adults and kids. Our ancestors definitely knew lots of healthy secrets!
