Mehndi art is a deep-rooted traditional craft in India. It carries great cultural significance and over time has spread to most parts of the Subcontinent, Middle East, South East Asian countries and even Europe and many parts of America where they call it as henna art or henna tattoos which are a rage in the global fashion circuit. Many international fashion and lifestyle magazines have published stories, photo features and even some of the big ones like Vanity Fair and Vogue have had them on their covers. Mehndi art has truly evolved into a global fashion phenomenon with celebs from Hollywood, Bollywood and many other industries sporting them on red carpets and at fashion dos.
The Magic Of Mehndi As An Art And A Personal Expression Of Style
Here are a few reasons why mehndi is such a big thing today and why you should try mehndi art:
It is completely natural and there is nothing chemical or toxic in it. Henna is a natural and 100% organic substance.
It is temporary. You could have it for a week or a month, and if you really don’t want it then removing it is easy and natural too. Sugar syrup, water, lemon and natural coconut oil would do the trick for you.
Mehndi designs are exquisite and elaborate – something that will make you feel special, unique and beautiful – all without going through a painful or time-consuming process like permanent tattooing.
Considered as good luck across religions and cultures right from Hindus, Muslims and Christians to ancient Egyptians and Aryans, everyone had their own iteration of the mehndi, and everyone considered it as good luck. In fact, many Indian traditions point towards even men sporting mehndi art. In most traditional Hindu weddings, it is mandatory for the groom to have mehndi on his hands and feet.
It is unique, almost magical, and will look good no matter what you team it up with. Be it a lehenga for your wedding or a casual look for a get-together with the girl gang or a shopping trip, you can carry it with ease.
If you are a bride-to-be, these titbits are just for you. The darker the colour of the mehendi, the better relationship and bonding you will have with your mother-in-law. The longer the mehndi lasts after marriage, the more auspicious it will be for the newlyweds. Mehndi itself is believed to be a symbolic representation of fertility and prosperity. The cleaner and undisturbed your design is (as in if you don’t rub it or disturb while it dries), the better will be your married life.
Well, there is a lot of good luck coming up your way, if you choose to go the mehndi way. So we hope you are now sorted about the whole idea of why you need to have mehndi as a part of your personality, your fashion outlook and as a tool to tweak public perception!
Let us get to the designs as such – modern mehndi designs, traditional mehndi designs and a fusion that is a beautiful blend of the best of both worlds. We present to you 21 of the most fascinating and hep mehndi designs that are the “in” thing in the bridal and mehndi fashion circuit.
Indian Mehndi Designs That Really Stand Out
Traditionally, there is nothing Indian about the whole Indian mehndi style because as with cultures, ethnicities and religions, we as a nation and mehendi as an art are very diverse. So the “Indian” mehndi design is basically a mix and match of the best from all over. So you could have the floral patterns of the Bengalis, the intricate work from the South, or the colourful designs of the Rajasthanis. Here are the best picks of the season from the Indian mehndi catalogue.
1. The Inimitable Peacock Mehndi Design
Peacock is not just the national bird; it is also mehndi art’s symbolic mascot and the most popular brand ambassador of sorts. It is used as a symbol of love, grace and agility. A beautiful bird that gives a unique appeal to the mehndi design.
2. Peacock Mehndi On The Palm
Another version of the inimitable peacock, but this time on the palm. This design is stunning and intricate with very less empty space in between the henna lines, giving the whole design an artistic rangoli like appeal.
3. A Full Blown Peacock
If you are the stylish, global desi who wants to flaunt her style then this full-blown peacock mehndi on the shoulder is the one you should go for. A design that gels well with a back-open blouse or anything that will get people sit up and take notice of the gorgeous mehndi peacock on your shoulder. Beautiful and timeless nature-inspired tattoos as the westerners call it.
4. The Dandiya Design
With arms, feet and even legs fully covered with the mehndi design, this is an elaborate and far more intricate iteration of the dulha dulhan design. This is an exquisite design of the bride and the groom playing dandiya and is like a bridal scene that has been captured in mehndi.
5. Dulha Dulhan Bridal Mehndi Design
Dulha and dulhan literally translate into groom and bride and hence the mehndi design which is a bridal speciality across North India is an artistic portrait of the bride and groom through mehndi art. This design is unique to weddings and is almost a customary feature at every Indian wedding. According to legend, the design and the outlines are based on the images or drawings of Lord Krishna and Rukmini who were considered as a beautiful and eternal couple.
Nature Inspired Mehndi Art – Floral Designs, Symmetry And Beautiful Flowing Patterns
The next set of designs we have on the list are modern mehndi designs inspired by nature. These are floral designs, symmetric patters that are tree-like and many more designs that are a fusion of traditional and modern artistic styles and patterns.
6. The Simple Floral
This is a straight and simple floral mehndi design that is uncluttered and light. It is easy on the eyes and would go well with any kind of dressing or style you choose to team it with.
7. The Traditional Wheel
Inspired by the Jagganath Ratha Chakra or the Sun God’s (Lord Surya) chariot’s wheel, this circular design is a very popular choice amongst young Indian women. The design is intricate and has detailed accents that add to its appeal, giving your mehndi a unique and inimitable style.
8. The Floral Pair
Another simple floral design with mirror image of the flower on both the palms and on the outer sides of the hands gives this a simple and clean outlook. A design you could consider if simple floral is your choice of style.
9. The Sun And The Moon – A Starry Mehndi Design
It is a beautiful and circular design pattern with the sun and the moon depicted on both the hands. The sun stands for masculinity (the groom) and the moon for feminine form (depicting the beautiful bride). If you are looking for a not-so-regular bridal mehndi design, then this one is tailor-made just for you.
10. A Symmetric Mango Leaf Pattern
A beautiful mango leaf pattern that is simple yet not boring or cluttered. It has a beautiful flowing design with no specific design accents to distract the whole look on your big day. So if you are looking for mehndi art that isn’t really intrusive, yet is there all through, then this is the design for you.
Arabic And Islamic Mehndi Art – Eternal Designs On The Sands Of Time
Arabic and Islamic mehndi designs are unique and have a certain appeal of their own. Like in India, in the Middle East too, applying mehndi is a cultural practice and has been passed down through the generations. Their style of mehndi art is unique and the designs have evolved over centuries. Islamic and Indian mehndi art are inter-related as they have certain aesthetic philosophies and inner dictums that match. Hence, there is a definitive influence of one style over the other. Well, as somebody wanting to have a unique mehndi design on your hand, that is good news for you because you get the best of both worlds. Let us now check out the most happening designs in the Arabic and Islamic styles of mehndi art.
11. The Intricate Flowing Floral Design
Arabic mehndi is striking and has a beautiful flow to its style and design accents. There is nothing that will stop or break the flow of patterns and this is one of the most beautiful examples of how floral design is used in Arabic mehndi.
12. The Moroccan Tiles Inspired Arabic Motifs
A stunning Moroccan tiles inspired design motif that look spectacular – one that would surely make a bride stand out. With very differently done design accents and a layout that is anything but regular, if you want to experiment with style, then this is one design you cannot ignore.
13. A Very Traditional Arabic Design
This is a simple and strictly traditional Arabic design. With flowers and a flowing scheme that is truly Arabic in style and feel, if you are a fan of simple Arabic style of mehndi art, then this is one design that you could consider.
14. A Budding Pansy Arabic Henna Strip
A modern take on the traditional Arabic style of mehndi art, with a budding pansy theme and linearly laid out design, this is one that is subtle yet stylish. One that will make people notice your mehndi design.
Classic Bridal Mehendi Designs
Mehndi as a custom has survived only because of the importance it is given in traditional Indian weddings. Bridal mehndi is unique and quite elaborate and different from the other styles. In fact, bridal mehndi is the best fusion of various styles and traditional designs, just like the modern Indian bride who cannot be typecast as from a certain religion, race or cultural background. Check out some of the most dazzling bridal mehndi designs and you will surely understand why bridal mehndi really stands out style in mehndi art.
15. The Indian Bridal Maharani Design
Maharani literally means a Queen in Hindi. As this design is fit for royalty, it derives its name from there. A form of mehndi art popularised by the Queens and Princesses of North Western India, this style of mehndi is exquisite, elaborate and rich it its design, layout and theme. Surely something that every bride would want on her big day.
16. The Modern Design Theme For Feet
A stunning bridal mehndi design especially for the bride’s feet. Beautiful, pleasing and yet never feels like it has been overdone. A design that will keep the bride on her toes all day.
17. The All Out Ganesha
A beautiful mehndi design depicting the much loved Lord Ganesha, it has a stunning design theme that is not just for the hands or the palms but is an all out effort design with matching design accents for the arms, feet and legs. A beautiful and vibrant design that is perfect for the spectacular Indian bride on the biggest day of her life.
18. A Beautiful Butterfly Peacock Fusion Bridal Theme
A spectacular fusion of traditional Indian bridal styles involving butterfly and peacock inspired design accents, this one is unique, eye catchy, different and yet simple in its outlook.
19. The Timeless Indian Bride
A soul-stirring portrait of the Indian bride sitting in a palanquin, this is a timeless piece of design that will make you the centre of attraction on your big day. Think about attention that every bride dreams for and here it is – your key to being the centre of the celebrations. A beautiful Indian bridal mehndi design that is timeless and inimitable.
20. The Islamic Bridal Mehndi Design
A beautiful Islamic bridal leg mehndi design that is so unique that your feet will stand out, quite literally!
21. The Big Indian Bridal Celebration
A bridal mehndi design like no other, from the band baaja and baraat to the beautiful bride and the handsome groom, everything and everyone who is part of the Indian bridal celebrations is depicted in this extremely elaborate and exquisite mehndi design. This is a must-have for any Indian bride if you can sit through the laborious process of getting the mehndi work done. But personally, we’d say – Go for it girl! After all, you only get married once and the patience is well worth the praise that’s coming your way.
Well, these are just some of the latest bridal mehndi designs from Bridal Box’s awesome mehndi catalogue of designs to suit every Indian bride. Mehndi as an art is unique and the craft has been passed down the generations. These traditional mehndi artists are extremely rigid in their styles and have been able to preserve ancient traditional styles and cultural influences for centuries. And like new blood that flows in to evolve and innovate, you have modern makeup artists, stylists and designers who have learnt the craft and have taken it up as a profession. These guys are innovative and have been blending styles and picking up bits and pieces from various traditional design forms to give mehndi art a modern and uniquely global twist like no other. This is one of the reasons why it has become a rage in the world of fashion in the West. There are henna tattoo studios in the West, in the most uptown places and streets in Milan and Los Angeles where you can walk in and get a Spanish version of Radha Krishna or an Arabic version of a simple modern design.
Mehndi is unique and the art which people thought would die a slow death has risen like a phoenix to dominate the fashion world globally. More and more brides in urban India (women who weren’t very interested in mehndi a few years ago) are ducking the trend and going in for a full blown mehndi work for their weddings or for private functions. So if you are looking for bridal mehndi designs or are just fascinated and interested by the whole “henna tattoo” thing, then there is no place like Bridal Box – a unique one-stop-shop for everything to do with weddings, love, relationships and bridal fashion.
We hope you like this post and our list of the most awesome and latest bridal mehndi designs for 2015. You can share your thoughts and even your own mehndi pictures with us by commenting on this post or you could also directly write to us. We would love to hear from you and are always happy to help if there is anything you need to know about weddings in India.
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