African Tribal Tattoos Meanings

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Henna as it is called in Moslem countries or Mehendi as it is known in India is named in Latin as Lawsonia inermis. This is a plant extensively grown and used in UAE, Africa and India generally for cosmetic purposes as it is considered highly auspicious. Henna is also used as a medicinal plant by Unani and ayurvedic doctors with excellent results.

Henna As A Temporary Body Tattoo

Mention of henna use can be found as long ago as 1600 BC as it was found that there was a custom among Egyptians to have the Pharaoh's hands and hair dyed with henna before mummification. In India and many Arabic countries henna is applied as a body tattoo on the palms and forearm as well as the feet on the occasion of wedding and many other auspicious celebrations such as birthdays, celebration of the completion of the seventh month of pregnancy, etc.

The Mehendi Pattern Designs

There are many ways to create mehendi patterns. Some apply it in bulk creating a big round on the palms and feet. Additionally each finger is coated upto the first bend including the nail with henna. This is mostly seen with the dancers of Indian traditional dances such as Kathak, Oddissi, Kathakali, etc.

During weddings and other similar celebrations, the mehendi is applied in intricate designs drawn with very thin lines with the help of a mehendi cone. These drawings are almost always in the form of symbols through sometimes it has figurines representing weddings and wedding ceremony.

The designs are usually applied to the inside of the palms. However, at weddings the tattooing is extended to the upper hand and it continues all over the forearm. Feet are also decorated in this manner. There are beautiful designs drawn on the feet of the bride that extends until the knee.

The Application Of Mehendi Tattoos And Patterns

The mehendi is prepared in a certain manner, i.e. take a cup of henna leaves and grind it to a paste, add to it the juice of half a lemon, few drops of eucalyptus oil and the paste of about five cloves. Add to it two tablespoons of coffee. Mix thoroughly and the put it in a butter paper mehendi cone. Make a very, very tiny incision at the end of the cone and use it as you would use a pencil to draw on the hand and legs.

Once applied you would need to keep the designed pattern moistened as long as you can. Use a mixture of sugar and lemon water to keep it from drying. In about six hours it would dry up when you could remove the caked henna. The color will continue to darken overnight unless you put water on the decorated body parts.

Nowadays, young people use henna as a body tattoo on other parts of the body - just as a regular tattoo sometimes mixing temporary dyes. You would find such tattoos most common around beaches, parties and other similar occasions. These tattoos like the ones applied on the hands and legs would be visible for about two weeks.

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