HENNA TREE
Scientific Name : Lawsonia inermis
Common Names : Hina, the henna tree, the mignonette tree, and the Egyptian privet.
Henna (Lawsonia inermis) is a flowering plant that reaches 12–15 feet tall and is the only species of the Lawsonia genus. The English term “henna” is derived from the Arabic phrase (al-inn). The term henna also refers to the dye made from the henna plant and the practice of temporary tattooing with those colours. For ages, henna has been used to colour skin, hair, and fingernails, as well as materials such as silk, wool, and leather.
This species is recognised, and its natural range includes NE Tropical Africa, the Arabian Peninsula, S. Pakistan, and India. It is used as animal food, poison, medicine, and invertebrate food, for environmental and societal purposes and as fuel and nourishment.
The dye provides a cooling effect and has no adverse effects on the skin. Mehendi is a painless alternative to permanent tattoos and is ideal for creating beautiful designs on various parts of the body.
History
The art of henna (known as mehndi or Mehendi in Hindi and Urdu) has been practised for over 5000 years in Pakistan, India, Africa, and the Middle East. According to some sources, it is over 9000 years old. Mehendi was introduced to India by the Mughals as recently as the 15th century AD. As the popularity of Mehendi grew, so grew its application methods and designs.
It is said to have been used as a cosmetic over the last 5000 years. According to the experienced henna artist and researcher Catherine C Jones, the gorgeous patterning seen in India now originated only in the twentieth century. In 17th century India, the barber’s wife was regularly employed to apply henna on women. Regardless of social level or marital status, most women in India at the period were represented with hennaed hands and feet.
Archaeological evidence suggests that henna was employed in ancient Egypt to colour the Pharaohs’ fingers and toes prior to mummification. The ancient Egyptians, as well as many indigenous and aboriginal peoples across the world, thought that naturally generated red substances such as ochre, blood, and henna possessed properties that increased human awareness of the earth’s forces. As a result, it was used to help individuals reconnect with their spirituality.
Tradition and Rituals
Henna is used mainly in joyful gatherings of people to commemorate special occasions such as weddings and birthdays. In certain societies, the darker the henna stain, the greater the love between two people.
Mehendi is popular among men and women as a hair conditioner and colouring. Mehandi is an essential component of many festivities. It is mainly used for festivities such as engagements, marriages, childbirth, naming ceremonies, and fasting events such as Karwa Chauth, Teej, Diwali, and Eid.
Mehendi is also used throughout the different vratas or fasts observed by married women, such as Karwa Chauth. Mehendi patterns have been found to include gods and goddesses. A large dot in the centre of the hand with four smaller dots on the sides is a typical Mehendi pattern on Ganesha and Lakshmi’s palms. Its most essential application, though, is at a Hindu wedding.
The Hindu marriage season is a popular period for Henna tattoos, also known as ‘Mehendi.’ Hindus frequently use the term ‘Mehendi’ to refer to marriage, and Mehendi is regarded as one of the most auspicious ‘ornaments’ of a married lady.
A secret engraving of the groom’s name on the bride’s palm is common in wedding henna designs. If the groom cannot discover his name amid the complicated designs, it is considered that the bride will be more dominant in married life. Another Mehendi myth holds that if an unmarried girl gets scrapings of Mehendi leaves from a bride, she would quickly find her husband.
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