Bridal Mehndi from India to the World
Mehndi is the application of intricate henna designs on the hands, arms, feet and sometimes other parts of the body. It is a ceremonial art form deeply tied to wedding and festive traditions in various cultures dating back 5,000 years.
Henna paste is made from the dried, ground leaves of the henna plant mixed with water and essential oils.
Mehndi is a symbol of beauty and celebration. In weddings, it is believed to bring good luck, blessings and protection.
The deep color of the henna stain is associated with the strength of love and the bond between the couple, and traditionally, a darker stain was thought to signify a stronger connection or love.
Mehndi ceremonies are a pre-wedding ritual held a day or two before the wedding involving music, dance and food. These parties are lavish and a lot of fun for the bride and her friends and family.
For destination weddings this is the perfect pre wedding get together to start off the celebrations and with so many beautiful places to enjoy on Mallorca the possibilities for a very special Mehndi celebration are abundant.
Mehndi in the context of weddings is most commonly associated with South Asia, Egypt, Morocco and is also extremely popular in Turkey. Since beauty knows no boundaries Mehndi is now a common feature in multicultural and fusion weddings to honor cultural traditions and enjoy this rich and beautifully symbolic ritual.
I sat down with Lisa Tomanin, Mallorca`s treasured and talented Mehndi artist to get the details on how Mehndi rituals work in practice for brides choosing Mallorca for their destination wedding:
Do you make your own Henna?
Yes, the henna powder is shipped from my supplier in Rajasthan. It is a high quality fine powder which I then mix myself using water and usually lavender, eucalyptus, cajeput or tea tree oil or a blend. The oil can be adjusted according to the client`s preference.
Once it was more common to mix it with lemon juice too, but many artists (including me) worldwide nowadays are avoiding putting it into the paste, in case of sensitivity to citrus as this could cause itching and redness especially in direct sunlight (and Spain is generally very sunny!).
Spraying a solution of lemon juice & sugar is a very Indian sealant method (and the one used by me) to stick dried henna onto the skin.
The recipe I use is on my website and I share it with the client before booking to ensure there are no allergies or other preferences from the bride.
How long does it take to create a full bridal Mehndi design?
This depends on each bride. Traditionally there would be 2-4 artists working on one bride to complete intricate designs on both hands, arms and feet. With more artists we can speed up the process however, as we don`t have so many artists available on the island I work in great detail on the designs and this can take a few hours to a full day depending on the design the bride desires. This is a great opportunity for the guests to enjoy the experience, music, dancing, food and drinks.
Do you provide a service to the bridal party or guests?
I provide 3 services; firstly for the bride in a calm & peaceful environment, then for the relatives during the Mehndi party and thirdly for the guests at the reception which would be simple designs taking around 10 mins per person. This is a really nice way to involve guests in a traditional ritual they may be new to, especially for multicultural wedding celebrations.
What do you love most about doing what you do?
I feel that it is not just one thing that I love but a mix of several. Doing this job for me is a beautiful way to combine my passion for art and a culture that has been part of my personal and educational growth. It also allows me to be in contact with different languages and keep discovering more things about the traditions and different cultures of my clients.
To find out more about creating a Mehndi ceremony, click below
