ANCIENT INDIAN DESIGN: HISTORY OF INDIAN TATTOOS AND HENNA

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1 1 ANCIENT INDIAN DESIGN: HISTORY OF INDIAN TATTOOS AND HENNA DEANDRA BRATHWAITE ARTH 321 HISTORY OF DESIGN DIVISION OF FINE ARTS BARBADOS COMMUNITY COLLEGE

2 2 Tattoos have made a significant impact on ancient Indian culture and design. In fact the action of applying tattoos is still very much relevant in modern day Indian culture. It is said that Indian tattoos are not only limited to the beautification of one s self but to also serve as an adornment to be carried over to the afterlife. Therefore, the major role which tattoos had and still have in Indian can be seen particularly in terms of religion. One of the most popular ancient and still existing forms of tattoo design in India is the temporary mehndi or henna decorations worn by the bride and other females during celebrations. This particularly pertains to Hindu wedding ceremonies. History of Tattoos in Ancient India Documentation or current records on this ethnic practice is somewhat limited due to the fact that the practice of tattooing was mainly tribal, as it was and still is in most countries across the world, and many of the tattooed Indian tribes were living in remote hinterlands or uncharted areas at the time. Additionally, the Indian tribes practice of tattooing was deemed to be primitive, uncivilized and unimportant as sophistication and the building of cities began and they were discriminated against as a result. Figure 1: Example of Tribal Tattoo (Facial)

3 3 The Mehndi / Henna Celebration In Hindu tradition, this is a pre-marital ceremony that is held at a banquet hall or the house of the bride. This is normally conducted during the night before the wedding ceremony or a few days before. Not only the bride, but both the bride and groom attend this ceremony together. Usually a mehndi artist or a relative Figure 2: Bridal Henna (Photography by Xyra Photography, Xyra s Elements) intricately designs the temporary mehndi, more popularly known as henna, tattoos onto the bride's hands and feet. It is also a popular practice to place or have the name or initials of the groom integrated within the design. All around the mood of this ceremony is one of festivity or rather it is celebratory. The Mehndi Ceremony can be deemed one of the most important pre-wedding events that are celebrated mainly by the bride's family especially in Pakistan. In Bangladesh, this ceremony is separated into two events in which one is planned by the bride's family and the other by the groom's family. Mehndi ceremonies take place outside India, Pakistan and Bangladesh. Other places amongst the South Asian community also celebrate Mehndi. Additionally, places as far as Birmingham in the UK and some Caribbean countries where Hinduism is practiced are also known to have very extravagant Mehndi celebrations.

4 The Description of Henna 4 Henna is regarded as a turmeric substance. That is, it is derived from a bright yellow aromatic powder obtained from the rhizome of a plant of the ginger family. It can also be used for flavouring and colouring in Asian cooking. However, this extracted substance was more formerly used as a fabric dye. Henna is the dried, powdered leaf of the Dwarf Evergreen Shrub, scientifically known as the Lawsonia Inermis which is a member of the Lythraceae family. The henna plant grows well where there are arid climates with desert like conditions. Major producers include India, Saudi Arabia and Egypt. Figure 3: Lawsonia Inermis (Henna) Mostly commonly used is the Red-Henna which is a redbrownish pasty substance that produces an orange looking pigment, where applied, after removal. After initial application, it must be allowed to sit for at least 30 minutes however, for best results it has to remain for about 2 to 6 hours. This is due to the fact that henna becomes darker with time. After final removal of the paste, the orange stained area is revealed and can Figure 4: Red Henna

5 5 ANCIENT INDIAN DESIGN: HISTORY OF INDIAN TATTOOS AND HENNA become darker after a few days. Henna designs can last from 2 weeks up to 6 weeks until that layer of skin exfoliates. Exfoliation can vary based on sun light exposure, bathing habits, area of application and skin type. Red henna dyes are relatively user friendly with only a few cases of contact allergies being reported even with its global or widespread use. However another type of henna which is not as commonly used, black henna, has been proven to cause skin irritations and swelling where applied. These are normally documented in articles and comments under the heading The Dangers of Black Henna such as the following online summary: Figure 5: Black Henna

6 6 Conclusion In conclusion, it is evident that the practice of tattoo design is one of the most impactful aspects of Indian culture as it has contributed to the ancient Hindu concept of mehndi or henna design. Mehndi ceremonies still continue to be celebrated to this day. The ceremony and act of applying henna designs itself have both become iconic in terms of Hinduism and are practiced in major countries in the world. [ 794 words ]

7 7 Sources:

8 8 Bibliography 1. Side-effects of Henna and Semi-permanent Black Henna Tattoos: A Full Review by Anton C. de Groot, Acdegroot Publishing, 8351 HV Wapserveen, The Netherlands doi: /cod India: Land of Eternal Ink Article 2009 by Lars Krutak