Henna paining – large

Henna powder is grinded out of the dried leaves of the henna plant. Most henna leaves are suitable for hair dyeing, but the powder used for body painting is made from the fresh shoots of the plant, ground much finer and packed in airtight packaging so that it can be used for 1-2 years. Body painting with henna also has a thousand-year-old tradition from India through the Middle East to North Africa. It is believed to protect and bring good luck, a symbol of happiness and celebration, which in many cultures accompanies women through the turning points of their lives to this day. Almost everywhere, the “henna evening” or “mehndi party” is connected with the bachelorette party, during which the bride’s hands and feet are decorated with henna, while the female members of her family and friends entertain her. Henna is also increasingly popular in the Western world. Whether it’s traditional motifs or modern creations, the enthusiasm of the ladies is getting bigger and bigger. Modern-day traditions such as decorating the bellies of expectant mothers have already developed, which is a worthy way to celebrate a new family member.

I am Nisanta, my civil name is Péter Sándorfi, the owner of Hennajagua.hu. Indian culture has been an integral part of my life for 22 years, and I started doing henna 10 years ago. I have been teaching henna painting for five years. You can find my work at www.thehennagrove.com. After a few years of practice, we wanted to develop further and turn henna painters into a friendly community in Hungary, so together with Gyöngyvér Hegedüs we organized the National Meeting of Henna Painters and an international henna conference, the East West Mehndi Meet.