Henna (Lawsonia inermis)

From its native distribution in Iran to western India, Henna spread eastward to the rest of India and Indonesia, and westwards to the Middle East where it became an important plant in Islam. It later followed Muslim armies and traders from Arabia reaching as far as Spain, Madagascar, the Moluccas, Indo China and Japan. It is now distributed throughout the tropics and subtropics.

The art of Henna decorating is now practiced in nine religions including Hindu, Sikh, Jewish, Muslim, Christian and Pagan. Traditionally a woman's art, Indian and Pakistani Henna designs, or mehndi, are intricate. Intricate patterns are made to decorate a bride, in a ritual a day before the wedding called the mehndi ceremony.

It is now a common household name in both South Asia and Europe, with many people seeing Henna as part of their lives either to dye their hair, or tattoo their skin.

Henna is not a sacred plant in South Asia, but it does symbolize prosperity, fertility and happiness. It plays an essential role in the rites of womanhood and represents fortune, seduction and beauty. It is widely used in a variety of religious and ritualistic ceremonies in South Asia, particularly by Muslims.

There are many myths surrounding the art of Henna in Pakistan and India. Legend states that the goddess Parvati, wife of the great god Shiva, used it as a decoration in order to charm her husband away from his usual stance of brooding meditation.

At weddings a bride's hands are decorated with Henna. The bridegroom's name is frequently hidden in the lacy patterns. If he discovers his initials on the wedding night it will bring him luck, but if he does not, it signifies that the bride will dominate their relationship. It was also believed that the darkness of the dye indicated how much the bride's mother-in-law would love her.

In the Muslim religion, there are a number of hadiths, or actions or stories of the Prophet Muhammed, that mention Henna. The plant plays a key role in the Id al-Fitr, or “little feast”, at the end of Ramadan. Celebrations take place over seven days as people return to food, drink and social pleasures after depriving themselves for four weeks. Gifts are exchanged, parties are held, and weddings often take place. During Id, women make an effort to look their best by wearing new clothes and applying Henna to their hair, hands and feet. A perfume derived from Henna flowers is also used for congregational prayers.