Mehndi or henna is an intricate part of Indian festivities. It is a salient component of Indian tradition and culture. It is a temporary decoration done on the skin during celebrations and such designs are usually black or brown. Mehndi designs are created on the hands, arms, feet, and legs by mehndi designers. It is created from the powdered dry leaves of the henna plant and has a profound ritual significance.
Henna is a brownish-red dye used to create Mehndi designs on the bride, groom, and their relatives. However, in modern times, applying mehndi has become a trend among women at all functions. Special occasions like karwachauth, Teej, Rakhi, and Diwali are also marked by the flooding of mehndi artists in the market. They are also considered auspicious and mark new beginnings in life.
Simple Mehndi Designs (for front hand and backhand)
Everyone is an artist at home. They desire to learn and create simple and stylish mehndi designs of their own. There are a few easy designs that one can create to avoid the last-minute stress of finding a skilled mehndi artist. They include easy flower patterns, waves, net designs, designs made of leaves, etc.
Easy patterns with dots can also be created or bracelet-like structures on the wrist are also in vogue these days.
- Backhand designs:
Finding the best-looking design for the backhand is very essential. It is the easily visible side and attracts everybody’s attention. Somebody not good at drawing can also make these simple designs.
Net/ Jaal designs-
They are very easy to create and look great too! They also cover up the hand’s area very quickly thereby requiring less effort on the part of the artist. Such designs also offer a scope of easy fillings.
Floral patterns-
Women like such small and delicate patterns. They are very popular. One can easily spot small leaves and flowers on finger knuckles.
Bangle-like patterns-
These are semi-circle in shape and look like bangles. They also get easily filled with henna. They are admired by one and all.
- Front hand designs:
Heart-shaped designs-
They are getting very popular these days, with the names of the soulmate written with henna inside them. They look very creative and romantic, especially in the case of the bride and groom.
Line motifs-
Criss-cross patterns with straight lines can also be made. This can be done by creating different shapes on boundaries like circles, diamonds, rectangles etc.
Bell-shaped patterns-
Bell-like shapes can also be created. Curves and circle patterns can also be created inside them. Dotted strings of bells can also be extended from below the fingertips.
Traditional Designs
Peacock and mandala shapes hold great significance when it comes to traditional mehndi designs. These designs continue to be used even today with slight modern influences. Doli and baraat scenes are sometimes also depicted on henna. Elephants are also made. Finger tips are sometimes simply filled with henna and no design. It resembles the red Alta applied by Bengali women.
Arabic Designs
This is a relatively new design pattern. In the last decade, the popularity of Arabic mehndi designs in India has grown manifold. Beautiful leaves and dots patterns are created. Dotted bracelets and jaal-based designs are also characteristic features of the Arabic category. Apart from simple floral patterns, palm cuffs are also famous. In flower-like patterns, roses and lotus-shaped designs are also in demand.
Mehndi Stickers
New trend alert! The hand designs are not limited to traditional hand carving today. There are readymade mehndi stickers available in the market today. They are temporary just like henna and are available in different bright colours. They appear like body tattoos. Their benefit is that they are easy to apply and remove. After applying them on gently wet skin, skin powder can be used to set them. A variety of designs are available in them. These include mandalas, flowers, moons, sun, net-shaped designs etc.
Their quality has improved over time. Many of them are waterproof. Such mehndi stickers are easily available both online and in markets. They are very affordable and give a great finish.
Mandala Designs
A mandala is usually a circular pattern, similar to a rangoli as we form on Diwali. It is a group of concentric circles formed one inside another. Then, different small beautiful designs are filled inside them. The whole circular creation looks very beautiful and radiant. They are usually designed at the centre of the hand’s palm, both on the front and back sides.
Henna Stencils
Adhesive mehndi stencils are easily available online these days. Once applied on hand, the person can then use mehndi to fill the pattern of the stencil. This way, the beautiful design of mehndi gets created on hand. After this step, the stencil can be easily removed and mehndi allowed to dry.
6 Latest Mehndi designs
Thousands of mehndi designs can be created. It depends on the creative abilities and skills of the artist.
Some new designs are:
- Mandala in the shape of a diamond (not circular) in the middle of the hand.
- Semi-circular designs are created diagonally at the back of the hand.
- Using peacock-shaped bracelet patterns in designs.
- Wedding shehnai and other musical instruments can also be created using mehndi on hands and arms. Elephants with Chhatri or chariot designs can also be made.
- A picture portrait of bride and groom is also created these days with the help of mehndi.
- The use of small hearts within the mehndi design is also in trend these days.
Mehndi or henna is a stunning reflection of the authenticity and beauty of Indian culture. Millions of designs are available online these days. The best of the new and innovative designs and motifs have been elaborated above. Gorgeous Mehndi designs help one to look more pretty. It is a part of Indian celebrations and festivities. To acquire, a good and darker shade of mehndi, one can take the help of mustard oil. Lemon and sugar mixture can also be applied, while it dries. Some people use Vicks and Vaseline also. They provide warmth which helps mehndi to acquire a beautiful colour.
Let your mehndi speak for you!
