Maya's blog: International Edition: Saree and Henna

India; it is a beauty of culture, food, languages, diversity and civilization. Although I've never explored India in my entire life, I've always been fascinated by its mystical yet mesmerizing culture. Perhaps it's because of my partial identity. Yes, I've got Indian blood in my vein!

In relation to a previous column, I'd like to present an Indian traditional clothes Saree and the body art called Henna.

Henna

Though western fashion can be seen in cities like New Delhi, the capital of India, many still wear saree as everyday clothes. In fact it's been worn for the past thousand years ever since Indus Vally Civilization.

Saree, sometimes spelled sari, is popular in Southern Asian countries like Nepal, Bangladesh and Malaysia. The word sari comes from Sanskrit meaning 'strip of cloth.' The length ranges from four to nine meters, and it's draped over the body in different styles. It's worn over an undergarment with a blouse called Choli composing upper garment.

India has a diverse culture and so is Saree's dressing style. Each region has its own style, but the most common style is wrapped around waist with one end draped over the shoulder. While the majority of women wear cotton made Saree, wealthy women wear silk ones. Younger generation of women choose bright colors. In terms of design, there is a countless number of saree. Some have beads with only one color of garment. Some have two to three colors with beautiful motif. Different collection of sarees are satin saree, silk saree and chiffon Saree.

Another attractive traditions is Henna, sometimes known as Mehndi, which is a popular body art in India. It's been used to dye hair, skin, fingernails, and so on. Henna lasts about one to four weeks, so it's like a temporary tattoo.

Henna was originally used way back in ancient Egypt to stain fingers and toes for mummification of Pharaohs.
In Indian culture, Henna is commonly used for wedding ceremonies.

When I tried Henna, the paste smelled like medicinal herb that somehow it soothed me. And it didn't hurt like a permanent tatto! I used Henna that came in a small tube. If you want to try out Henna, here are some tips.

1. Draw whatever design your heart desires on the hands or on the feet. (In fact you can print Henna on any part of the body and I personally like drawing floral design.) Use your own creativity!

2. After henna is applied, wait for about 15 to 20 minutes.

3. Scrape the paste off when it gets dried out completely.

4. Wash your hands with soap. However, do not wash the area of applied paste on your hands early, because the earlier you wash them, the lighter Henna appears to be.

5. Then there you have it, a beautiful Henna tattoo!

Though there is a minor controversy, I have to warn you about black henna. According to Health Canada, PPD (paraphenylenediamine) which is added in black henna may cause a damage to skin. Meanwhile Red Henna is considered safer, so I recommend using it instead.

Rich in culture and heritage, India enchants the eyes and the minds of many. In that respect, I introduced only a glimpse of its legacy. Either way, I'm certain India will keep captivating the hearts of others.

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