Be
it Teej, Karwa Chuth, or Diwali, the tradition of applying Henna forms a
unique feature in any Indian festival. Indian henna is known worldwide
for its intricate designs and bright color. For Hindu women mehandi is a
sign of Goddess Lakshmi (Hindu Goddess of Wealth and Fortune). At the
time of Teej, women adorn their hands with beautiful mehandi designs.
Teej Henna Tradition
In India, the tradition of henna is considered very important when it
is the festival time. Mehndi design is a temporary tattoo that lasts for
2 to 4 weeks. It has been adopted as a fashion statement in recent times
as its application is completely painless and safe. Beautiful mehandi
designs are created on hands, feet and other body parts. Different
mehndi designs depict different meanings in various festivals. Women who
beautify their hands with intricate mehandi are not allowed to do any
household work. She is just let to cherish the memories of her wedding
day.
Fun with Henna
One major women festival in which we see both married and unmarried
enthusiastically indulging in the mehndi designs is Teej. At the time of
Teej, women dress up like new brides and apply henna on their hands and
feet as it is part of
'shringar'. One can see women, young girls
and even small adorned in the beautiful hues of mehndi designs. With a
craze to showcase the darker Henna color women keep mehndi for a longer
time after applying it to their hands and feet. They even get their
hands and feet covered as much as possible. Special Henna pastes and
oils are applied to make the henna darker. It is said if the color of
henna darkens at its best, the married or an unmarried woman is loved
intensely by both her mother-in-law and her husband.
Some women hide the name of their husband in the mehandi design. Later
at night, husbands are asked to search out his name from the design and
bless his wife with happy life. Mehndi designs are usually symbols of
good luck. One can see Rajasthani flavor in the mehndi designs as there
is a greater depiction of wide variety of floral patterns.
Also Read
Teej Henna Patterns 
