New Conversations: An Interview with Henna Artist Marcela Faruqui

April 27, 2014 • Leave a Comment

Marcela, how did you learn the art of henna?

I am a self-taught henna artist, Roger. Back home in Argentina, I used to do paintings on cloth, so learning to apply henna was not too difficult for me. I did henna as a hobby for about nine years. Two years ago, I began doing henna professionally at a salon. This year, I started my own business MF Henna.

There is no recognized institute for learning henna, but there are many henna conferences throughout the United States where experienced as well as new henna artists can gather together to share their knowledge.

What are the origins of henna for wedding ceremonies?

The art of henna has been practiced for over 5,000 years in India, Pakistan, Africa and the Middle East. In ancient times, people believed that the henna would protect the wearer from the Evil Eye.

In weddings, henna is a symbol of good luck and fertility. For the Mehendi, the bride’s closest friends and family gather around as she has her hands and feet decorated with henna. During this special time, the bride is the center of attention. She will do no chores and will avoid touching water for the rest of the day or until her wedding ceremony. That will allow the henna to develop a great dark color.

Henna is also used as an icebreaker between the newlyweds. (In the past, the bride and groom might not meet until the wedding day.) Traditionally, the name of the groom is hidden somewhere in the henna designs on the hands of the bride, and the groom has to find it!

Is henna used on other occasions besides weddings?

Henna is a way of beautification for everyone who wants it. It is a magical, spiritual moment that never ceases to fascinate people every time is applied.

In the past, mothers-to-be had henna applied to their hands before their due date as a symbol of protection. Today, it is becoming very popular for western moms to have henna applied on their bellies.

Many cancer patients who have lost their hair choose to have henna designs applied to their heads. This practice is called healing henna.

Birthday parties, bridal showers, and school proms are all new occasions for henna.

And, in the summer, people like to have henna done just to show off at the beach!

Is there religious significance to henna artwork?

There is a lot of folk symbolism in common henna designs. Many of the original motifs were designed to ward off the Evil Eye!

The unique geometry of Moroccan Berber design is a result of ancient animistic beliefs and Islam's prohibition of artistic depictions of animals or humans. When the Berbers converted to Islam, they developed simple geometric representations of animals to avoid violating Islamic codes. We see these geometric motifs in rugs, ceramics, and jewelry as well as in henna designs.

Henna is mostly used for beautification. When you wear henna, you feel special!

Could you explain the process of body decoration using henna?

Henna is mixed 24 hours before it’s used, packed into cones, and then refrigerated. It can be applied with a henna cone, a henna bottle, a syringe, or a toothpick on a person’s arms, legs, hands, feet, back, shoulders, neck, bald head, or belly.

For a wedding, henna is applied two days before the wedding day to allow the color to deepen. The Mehendi, or Henna Night, is the night when henna is applied. The application of henna to the bride’s arms and feet usually takes three to six hours or more. It all depends on the intricacy of the designs she chooses.

Are any special precautions required during the wedding day?

The bride should avoid water, abrasive soaps, creams, and hand sanitizer. She can keep the design moist using olive oil or natural lip balm. Henna normally takes about 15-30 minutes to dry, though it may dry faster in the summer.

How long do henna designs last?

The henna lasts between one and three weeks.

What patterns do you favor in your designs?

I use traditional patterns and like to create my own designs using floral motifs and Indian elements like peacocks, paisleys, dots and checkerboards.

I ask each bride what she likes and does not like --- after all, she will have to live with the designs for two weeks or more!

Any recommendations regarding photographing a bride's henna decorations?

I recommend that photos of the henna be taken two days after the paste is removed. That is the time when the color will be at its peak.

The photographer should use his or her imagination to pose the hands and feet gracefully to tell a story. Poses with the two hands together, or the two hands with the feet, are great starting points.

Keywords: Indian weddings, New Conversations, South Asia weddings, body art, bridal make-up, contemporary henna art, wedding photography tips, wedding traditions

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