Henna Patterns

My next page is on Indian henna designs, also known as "Mahanadi", which is very popular especially among Indian women. Henna's history is hard to track and I believe this art has been around for at least 5000 years. The patterns vary from religion to religion but the motive is the same - women put this on for celebrations, weddings and special occasions. Henna is believed to bring happiness, good fortune, and good luck. I read that at first, henna was allowed only for the rich and ruling families. Eventually, everyone was allowed to apply henna.

What amazes me is how intricate the designs have become in the past century. I've a few patterns that are perfectly done and are dazzling. Apart from how beautiful this art looks on the human body, this has a ton of health benefits. It is a cooling agent, has the ability to cure skin and nail problems, and also can cure headaches. Since henna is a herb, it makes the dying process 100% natural. The leaves contain a red-orange pigment known as hennotannic acid. This pigment is released by crushing the henna leaves and it has the ability to stain the outermost layer of the human skin. Body's internal temperature has a huge impact on the outcome - some turn darker than the other. You have to experience this art to feel how it energies and beautifies you at the same time. I look forward to hearing from you!