Henna and Its Traditions

The henna art was in practiced in India, Middle East and parts of Africa for more than thousands years in both cosmetics, and healing capacities.

The Henna art is a very old custom originated in 12^th century A.D. The word henna has its origin in the Arabic word Al-Hinna. It used by rich and royal people to decorate their body temporarily. It is a paste made from the powdered, dried leaves of the henna plant (Lawsonia inermis).Its stain is usually cherry-red to brown in colour but this can vary with time and other substances, added to improve the deep colour .

Henna Plant

Use of henna application

It was used as a means to cool down the body for the people who lived in very hot places where they were applied at the extremities(hands ,feet)of the body to cool the inner systems. . The art of henna decorating has been practised in Northern Africa, Middle East, Southern Asia and Europe and has been used by Hindus, Sikhs, Jews, Muslems ,and Christians. In the beginning, designs started as simple blobs to intricate geometric patterns designed to ward off evil, promote fertility and attract good energy. In India this art form is called‘Mehndi’- Hindi word for the art of applying the henna paste on the hands and feet of a person in desired designs.

How henna paste is prepared?

The whole leaves will not stain the body. The stain of the henna is due to Lawsone chemical compounds present in the leaves.When the leaves are crushed these compounds are released when they come in contact with the skin, they are absorbed. The absorbed lawsone compounds binds with proteins from the skin and creating a fast stain. To improve the intensity of the stain sometimes acidic substances are used as a catalyst.

To have the intricate designs the henna leaves are powdered by drying, milling and sifting .This dry powder is mixed with few drops of lemon juice, strong tea, Eucalyptus oil or other mildly acidic liquids to make a paste which is then used to make finely detailed art on the body part. The henna mix is allowed to rest for 6 to 20 hrs before use to allow the lawsone to be released from the leaf matter.

The paste can be applied with cone (nowadays the readymade cones filled with henna paste are sold in the shops , but the quality has to be considered)syringe, or fingers. A lighter stain may be achieved within 30 minutes, for the stronger stain it has to be left on the skin for a longer time. To avoid falling off this paste a syrup prepared with sugar is applied over the designs to adhere them to skin for a longer time. After drying for enough time either it is washed with water or scrapped off. Initially the stains are orange soon after the application, but they become dark in the following days.

Bird Designs

Interesting Facts

• The henna art was in practiced in India, Middle East and parts of Africa for more than thousands years in bothcosmetics, and healing capacities.
• Egyptians used to stain the fingers and toes of the Pharoahs with henna before mummification in a belief it will help them to identify their body afterlife. 
• Archeologists have even found mummies with hennaed hands. The use of henna in the 4^th,5^th centuries in the Deccan of Western india is clearly illustrated on Boddhisattvas and deities of cave wall paintings in Ajanta and in similar paintings in Srilanka.

Bud Design

Tradition of Henna celebrations

Bridal henna nights are popular tradition in North Africa, Arabia, East and South Asia. Jews, Muslims, Hindus, among others all celebrated marriages by adorning the bride, and often the groom with henna. Henna was regarded as having “barakh” blessings and was applied for good luck,fertility as well as for joy and beauty .Across the henna –growing region, henna has been used to adorn young women’s bodies as part of social holiday celebrations for centuries. Even favourite horses, donkeys had their hooves paws, and tails hennaed. Battle victories, Births, circumcision, Birthdays, weddings included henna as part of the celebration.

Henna tradition and belief in different countries

Algeria

In Algeria the bride’s mother-in–law presents her jewellry and paints the Henna on her hands.

India-. In India a variety of traditions underlie the use of Mehndi. Darker stain on the hand of bride and bridegroom is believed that the two will have strong bond throught out their life. Sometimes the name of the bridegroom is written in the intricate design of the bride’s body, if the groom fails to find it out it is said the girl will have the control in the married life. The longer the henna stays on bride’s hand the longer it is believed that her-in –laws will treat her well.

Saudi Arabia

In Arabia has been a symbol of good luck, health and sensuality in Arabia. The plant has been associated with positive magic and believed to provide a link to an ancient age of good and bad spirit Baraka and Jnoun. During wedding Henna celebrations a female relative who has long happy married life paints the bride’s hands with henna in a belief that she too will have a long lasting married life.

Somalia

Henna is worn by Somali women before wedding on their hands, arms, feet and neck .

Tunissia

The henna celebration Last for seven days. For bride she is painted on the 3^rd day where for groom it is on 6^th day.

Symbolism of Designs

The Arabic henna designs are usually large, floral patterns, on the hands and feet. In India it involves fine, thin lines for lacy, floral and paisley patterns covering entire hands, forearms, feet and shins. The African henna designs are bold and geometric patterns.
Because henna is part of many cultural traditions across many regions there are a number of symbols used within the art and each have various meanings and uses.
Here are some of the more popular symbols and blessings used within mehndi art:

Palm decoration - the designs on the palm are invoke images of opening and offering. (usually sun, flower, mandala)
Back of hand decoration - acts as a shield-closing, defending, clenching-symbolizing protection to the person.
Right hand - considered to be masculine and, Projective
Left hand - considered to be feminine and receptive.
Feet - the feet are given much importance ,because it is the part where the nodes end and are recognized as a point of divine contact, considered a holy junction,
where Human being and Earth meet.

Snake pattern

Vines and Leaves

Butterflies - Symbolizes transformation in one's life.
Dragonflies - Symbolizes rebirth.

Peacocks - Symbolises the beauty of the person
Swans - Symbolises success in married life.
Birds - Believed to act as messengers (between heaven and earth)

Parrots -considered as messengers of love,especially for the lovers.

Fishes - represents beautiful women's eye,some say it means easy and happy life.
Scorpian - the scorpion design symbolizes love and romance, its sting is compared to effect of Cupid's arrow where being stung by scorpion produces the same effects as being in love.
Flowers -Symbolizes joy and happiness in life
Vines and leaves - this design is used in belief of longevity, devotion, perseverance, entwined lives of two souls, and vitality.
Lizards and snakes - means the persons are seekers of enlightenment
Tortoise - symbolizes Protection and fertility
Lotus Blossom - symbolizes the light within / the awakening of the human soul. Grace, beauty, creativity, sensuality, femininity, and purity.
Sahasrara - sahasrara means thousand, a lotus with thousand petals exist 4 inches above cranium ,uniting the soul with the 'Divine Source' ,the design of lotus with thousand petals symbolizes immortality or yogic power.
Sun, Moon,and Stars - symbolizes long life and deep and everlasting love between lovers/partners
Paiselys - represent fertility and good luck to the couple.
Eye - this design is used to mirror back the 'Evil Eye',

chessbord- symbolizes the knowledge and wisdom of a person.

Zig-Zag- this design is used when person needs improvement in life.

Whatever the belief and artist system it is clear it is a part of the tradition and is kept alive by generations of women by their fascination towards the art from throughout the world.

The Top 10 Most Interesting places In India To Know.

      India has many interesting places to visit from mystery, haunting places with spine chilling stories, to  beautiful, mesmerizing scenic spots. Here is a list of those places to know ,wonder and ponder.

Kuldhara Village Entrance

The Village in Shambles

1.Kuldhara -A haunted village near Jaisalmer

No one lives in Kuldhara as well as its adjacent villages as these are believed to be cursed, It was once a very lovely village of the Paliwal Brahmin who is believed that all residents of kuldhara village as well as residents of adjoining 85 villages who left their homes overnight in 1825. The ancestors of these villages had been residing in these places, from 1300BC.

About 200 years ago , a community of Paliwal Brahmins lived in this place were made to leave their home in distress .There are many folklores on the disappearance of the whole community in overnight.

The most spread is the Paliwal’s were threatened ,by the ruler of the place Diwan of Jaisalmer Salim Singh to whom they were paying huge amounts of money in the form of taxes . When the ruler apparently set his eyes on the village chief’ s daughter ,they were given no choice in the matter and they had just a day to accept his proposal or the whole villagers will be punished with more heavy taxes. Overcome by remorse and in desperation the entire community left their homes and hearts behind, along with the leader, cursing the place will be haunted by bad spirits and no one can occupy the place.

People still believe the ghosts walk around in the night, not allowing anyone to stay or live. Others say that nobody lived here anymore as mysterious deaths have occurred. There is no clue to where the residents went but some believe that they had gone place to a place near Jodhpur. Pretty interesting as thriller movie?

The mummified monk at Gue

Mummy of the monk Tenzing Sangha in closer view

2. A Mummified Monk in a lonely village of Himachal Pradesh

Gue is a tiny village in the Spiti valley of Himachal Pradesh, almost on the Indo-china border.Here is a mummy of the Monk Sangha Tenzinwho sacrificed himself to save his village from scorpions.

The mummy is dated to be almost 500 years old, with hair and teeth intact, well preserved in a natural way. Natural mummification is an extremely difficult process in which the body is made to react in such a way that body fats and fluids reduce at a constant rate and the organs that can decay are reduced in size. A special diet is given towards the end to preserve the meat on the bone. The body is kept in a meditating posture , by using a restrainer around the neck.

It is believed that when Sangha Tenzin’s soul finally left his body a rainbow appeared across the sky and in the process, the village was rid forever from scorpions.

3. Loktak Lake -The floating lake.

The largest fresh water lake in North-East India also called the only floating lake in the world due to the floating phumdis on it. It is located Moirang in Manipuri state of India.

The most beautiful aspect of the lake is phumdi which is a heterogeneous mass of vegetation, soil, and other organic matter that accumulate over a period of time that resemble a landmass that float freely in the lake.

There are many phumdis floating all over the entire stretch of the lake giving it an amazing look. The floating phumdis , are sturdy enough to build thatched huts upon them and make great settlements for the local fishermen.

A view from Sendra Island provides a breath taking scenic view of the beautiful lake.

The largest floating Island covers an area of 40sq mt and constitutes the world’s largest floating park, Keibul Lamjao National park. There is also tourist home built on top of a floating island.

Huts On the Phumids

     

                         

                                               Floating Lake At Manipur 

.4. Deserted town in Rajasthan-Bhangarh

It is a most popular haunted town in Rajsthan, where people fear to move around after sunset.It was established in 1613 by king Madho singh son of great General Mansingh of Hangar Bhangarh was abandoned soon after being built and supposedly after cursed by a magician.

Lot of tourists who visit this fort affirm that there is a strange feeling in the atmosphere of Bhangarh which causes symptoms of anxiety and restlessness.

The folklore is there was a tantric battle between the gorgeous queen Ratnavathiof Bhangarh and a wicked magician over marriage of the queen to the tantric Singhia which ended in death of both and a curse, doom to the city.

Another myth is the king disobeyed the advice of guru by building the palace overshadowing the guru’s hut which made him angry and cursed the whole place to perish as the shadow fell over his place, which resulted in the ruin of city, and also in making one of the most popular haunted places in India.

Most Haunted Bahgarh Fort

5.Valley Of Flowers

Nestled in the West Himalayan Region , Valley of flowers covers a vast expanse of 87.50 sq kms with myriad Alpine flowers. It is situated in Bhyundar valley at an elevation of 3,658 mts above sea-level.

The valley is located in Chamoli district of Uttarkand state , offering wonderful sight of flowers(more than 500 species) in unique shapes, color and fragrance. The region is rich in variety of flowers and animals.

The place has been declared as the National park of India in the year 1928 and it is now a world heritage site. The pristine water of Pushpawati River ,divides this enchanting valley into two parts. The place is like a paradise in fairy tale with dew drops on the vivid flowers, drafted with chirping of birds in the background of clean salubrious air of the Himalayas.

It is known to the world only this century but locals always knew about the existence of the valley and believed that it was inhabited by fairies. This place is rich in fauna which is endemic to this region.

Valley of flowers in Himalayan range

6.Roopkund -(locally known as mystery lake)is a high altitude glacial lake on Uttarakhand state of India famous due to hundreds of human skeletons found at the edge of the lake

. The location is not inhabited and is located in Himalaya at an altitude of about 5,029 metres. The lake is surrounded by rock-strewn glaciers and snow clad making it a good trekking destination.

. At this elevation there is a shallow lake having depth of about 2 metres, Roopkund has attracted attention by having hundreds of human skeletal remains easily visible at its bottom when snow melts. There are many theories and opinions from purely spiritual to scientific theories, which explains the existence of these skeletons, which dates back to 9^th century .

What would have killed these people and why were so many on such a gruelling journey in the middle of nowhere? According to folklore the entourage earned the fury of the local deity Latu, and they were caught in a dreadful hailstorm and were thrown in the the Roopkund lake.

Glacier Lake In Winter

In Summer

Bones are seen in the dry pond

7.Shani shingnapur-located in theAhmednagar district of Maharashtra is famous for its shanidev temple as there were few in the country.

Unlike most temples this one does not house an idol instead a black stone deity is worshipped here. However the most unique aspect of this town is the houses as none of them have doors. Because the people believe the deity is alive and protects them criminals acts or break-inns if anyone does that they will be in spate of bad luck by god Shani, who will punish severely.

The entrances to the houses only have the frames in it. There are banks they have doors to stop the customers from entering, in non-working hours, but they are also never locked.

Houses Without Doors

8.The Root Bridges of Cherrapunji

The southern Khasi and Jaintia hills are humid and warm criss-crossed by swift flowing rivers and mountain streams. Here in one of the wettest places on earth the bridges are not built they are grown.

War-khasis a tribe in Meghalayalong ago noticed this tree and saw in its powerful roots an opportunity to easily cross the area’s many rivers. So whenever and wherever the crisis arises they simply grow their bridge.

In order to make a rubber trees roots grow in the right direction say over a river the Khasis use betel nut trunks sliced down the middle and hollowed out to create root-guidance systems. The thin tender roots of the rubber tree prevented from coming out by thick betel nut trunks grow straight out. When they reach other side of the river they are allowed to take root in the soil.in given period of time they become strong and ready to cross the river by people.

At time these bridges are extraordinarily strong to withstand weight of fifty people or more at a time. One special root bridge believed to be the only one of its kind in the world is actually two bridges stacked one over the other and has come to be known as Umshiang double decker roots bridge.

Double Decker Bridge

Root Bridges 

9. Magnetic Hill in Leh

In the Leh –Kargil-Baltic national highway there is a spot calledmagnetic hill. The hill lies at a distance of 30 km from the town of Leh at an elevation of around 14,000 feet above sea level. This place invites you to be part of an scientific phenomenon known as optical illusion.

Here on the road there is a sign board saying magnetic hill. From here the vehicles move on their own at 10-20 km with ignition is off as if they were attracted by magnetic force of the hill. Actually it is a normal downhill movement, appear as an uphill movement of the vehicle.

The mystery behind this is the magnetic place where the layout of the surrounding land produces the optical illusion that a very slight downhill slope appears to be uphill slope. Thus a vehicle left out of gear will appear to be rolling uphill. A completely or half, obstructed horizon is the most important factor contributing to the illusion. As in the absence of a horizon it becomes difficult to judge the slope of a surface.

Another theory is that false perspective might also play a role. Objects far away may seem smaller or larger than they really are. This is common illusion that is found in numerous locations around the world where usual a stretch of road on hills where the level horizon is obscured.

The marking on the road from there you can experience the wonderful phenomenon

10.The Mysterious caves of Ajanta and Ellora

In India caves of Ajanta Ellora attract many travellers from all parts of the world. It is a world’s greatest historical monument recognised by UNESCO located just55kms from Jalagaon city and 105kms from Aurangabad city of Maharashtra,India.

There are 30 caves in Ajantha of which 9,10,19,26,29 are chaitya-grihas(living place) where rest are monasteries. The caves are by the river Waghora, in the midst of the Sahyadri hills buried by thick forest all around. The Ajanta Caves were discovered by a British Captain, John Smith in 1819, while on a hunting expedition.

The scenic Beauty Of Ellora Caves

The architectural marvels inside the cave premises.

These 2^nd century caves are considered as the finest masterpiece of Buddhist art and architecture. These historical manmade caves comprise of beautiful paintings on the walls and ceilings that depict the life of Buddha and his teachings.

There are 34 caves at Ellora dating from between the 6^th and 11^th centuries AD and 29 caves at Ajanta dating back to between the 2^nd century BC and 6^th century AD. The paintings, architecture, precision, location, like pyramids in Nile vehemently declare it as a super architectural marvel there lots of other specimens to support its uniqueness and importance in archaeology as well as in religion.

Paithani Silk Sarees

The key element of a Paithani is its completely hand-woven border and pallu.
A true Paithani sari is characterised by the borders of an oblique and square design having a pallu with a peacock. 
   They are available in kaleidoscope colours and this effect is achieved by varying the weave.
    A particular colour is used for weaving lengthwise while another is used width wise. The design woven on the border separates it from all other saris.
    The greatest specialty of Paithani lies in its pallu wherein various distinctive motifs such as bangdimors, asavali, shikharkhana, gazwel, akroti, Ajanta Lotus are used.
    The Paithani sari can also have edges lined with rare gems and precious pearls.
The vegetable dyes are specially prepared.
    Gifting Paithani saris in a girl’s wedding trousseau is customary in the region of Maharashtra.

How to Take care and Maintain Silk Sarees 

•  Do not use soap for the first three washes. 
• Gently rinse in plain cold water.
• For the subsequent washes, use a mild detergent.
• Wash the pallu, border and body separately.
• Provide good air circulation when in storage.
• Do not use naphthalene balls or chemical to protect from insects.
•  Drop few Cloves around to avoid insects.
• Never use plastic or regular cardboard boxes to store.
• Do not use hangers. Wrap in muslin cloth.
• Store in Wooden chest or wooden cupboard.