THE MARRIAGE OF ART AND ALLIANCE
A habit of Henna
Text Sophie Ibbotson & Max Lovell-Hoare
A Hindu bride is a work of art : Her hands and feet are a canvas for the most intricate of henna designs . It is said that the darker the colour of the design , the more love and welcome she will receive from her in-laws – so getting it right is an absolute must .
Henna ( Lawsonia inermis ) is a flowering plant native to the tropical and subtropical zones of Africa , South Asia and northern Australasia . The plants are cultivated most heavily in the Pali district of Rajasthan , where more than 100 henna processors operate in a single city . The henna they produce is used domestically within India but also exported around the world , where henna body art and hair dye are growing trends .
7