Why Indian women paint their hands and feet?

It is an ancient ritual that is often used on special occasions such as weddings or religious celebrations; Know this unique technique henna tattoo and their meanings; Look at the photographs gallery


In some cultures, the colored skin can become sacred, especially if it is pigmented with henna, and one of the most beautiful cases, is the Mehndi, an ancient tradition of tattoo from the Vedas.

Traditionally, Mehndi applies to women who are getting married: applies the groom's family in the hands and feet of the bride. The designs are very complex and their implementation often can take several days. After scraping, tincture takes about two weeks to fall, and at that time, women do nothing of housework, so the girl who knows nothing of his new family, have time also to know the place and the people who will live there in the front.

For Hindus, marriage is more than a simple contract between a man and a woman, so the ceremony is conducted by a priest who follows the rites described in the sacred books of India, the Vedas.

The ceremony, officiated by the Brahmin, is divided into three parts: offering to the sacred fire, true union between husband and wife, and the rite of the seven laps of the fire.


The bride and her friends hands covering tattoos done based on henna, a plant with which draw beautiful figures in the body without any pain. Once performed the ritual of henna, it is summoned to the four actors of the ceremony: the father of the bride, the young, the maid and the Brahmin. Father throws on the knees of her daughter a few gold coins, and exclaims "that wealth may take you"

The young bride usually wear beautiful clothes red indicating the desire and passion. The groom is taken to the house of the young man who gives a beautiful dress hanging a black ribbon, another red, used to ward off evil.

The most important moment is the marriage ritual consecration is to tighten the palm of sons wife if desired, and fingers if women are preferred.

The meaning of tattoos with henna

Henna is a powder of dried leaves from the bush "henna". It grows in hot climates, mainly in Egypt, Iran, India, Malaysia, Morocco, Pakistan, Syria and North African regions, where it is common to see this type of tattoo.

Due to its universal use, it differs in each place both in the name of the bush and its application to the skin. The best known name is that of Mehandi or Mehndi, from India.

In every culture also it changes its meaning, but always with a common point. In most coincides promoting luck and fertility, like the guard from evil spirits and the devil, of which a newly married woman or expectant mother is more vulnerable to attack.

In India, this ritual is known as the "Night of Henna", which in addition to brides are instructed for their future married life. Besides weddings, the body is also decorated in other celebrations or festivals, the 8th month of pregnancy, birth and naming ceremonies.

Postingan terkait:

Belum ada tanggapan untuk "Why Indian women paint their hands and feet?"

Post a Comment