It is again that time of year when the age-old tradition rages up in the form of embellishment. With women of all ages thronging mehndi stalls at shopping centres and beauty parlours to get their palms painted with the intricate inlay of red and black mehndi or henna, it certainly cannot be missed as one of the most essential ingredients of Eid preparations.

Mehndi is derived from the henna plant, known as Lawsonia inermis, which is grounded into powder and mixed with leaves and fruits of other plants such as indigo, tea, coffee, cloves and lemon to produce a variety of shades.

The origins of this 100 per cent natural product are difficult to trace but it is mostly believed to have its origin in ancient India, though some say that the Mughals brought it to India in the 12th century while it was in use in the Middle East and North Africa for centuries.

Archaeologists also believe that mehndi dates back to 5,000 years when Egyptians used henna to stain the toes and fingers of Pharaohs prior to mummification. It was believed that application of henna would make the trip of the deceased into the hereafter more pleasant and please the gods.

Even though the origins of henna remain a mystery, mehndi has now become a symbol of style for most people irrespective of their age, gender, race and wealth. In fact, its popularity spread from the subcontinent to the West during the late 1990s as a ‘temporary and painless tattoo’.

Many cultures hold their own beliefs about henna. South Asian weddings are often incomplete without the Mehndi celebration. It is believed that the deeper the colour on the hands of the bride, the more love there will be between husband and wife.

Also, some say the stronger the colour, the more the-mother-in law will love the new bride, while others take it as an auspicious omen.

In Morocco, the role of mehndi supersedes that of temporary design and transcends to that of beauty. It is deemed as a sign of good luck and protection against illness, the evil eye and as something that brings joy.

Application of Mehndi vary from culture to culture but is mostly common during weddings, celebrations of pregnancy, birth, Eid, for good luck, protection from the evil eye and camaraderie and beauty.

These days, three different mehndi styles are prevalent. Arabic designs hold fewer details and do not cover the hand or feet wholly but nevertheless look as beautiful as other styles. Indian designs are often most popular with a single figure in the middle of the palm and big dots with fingertips mostly completely covered with henna. Pakistani designs are most detailed and intricate, offering the most striking and gorgeous look.

Mehndi in the form of cones, stamps and packets is available in the markets along with recent innovative embellishments such as coloured glitter and jewels, adding a spark to the plain henna. Tattoo and henna stencils are also widely used worldwide to outline mehndi designs. Alternatives to mehndi have emerged, which include glitter and plain decorated stickers giving nearly the same appearance and look of traditional mehndi. It is indeed intriguing that the beautiful grace of Arabic mehndi has successfully extended from body decoration to different media such as cloth, candles, canvas, frames and pouches. This enigmatic art of henna is set to explore even newer avenues and is limited only by people’s imagination.