Mehndi

But modern patterns now incorporate hues like white, red, black, and gold, enabling more individualized and varied artistic expressions.

[2] Hindu women apply mehndi during festivals like Karva Chauth, Vat Purnima, Diwali, Bhai Dooj, Navratri, Durga Puja, and Teej.

For women, it is usually drawn on their palms, backs of their hands and on feet, where the design will be clearest due to contrast with the lighter skin on these surfaces, which naturally contains less of the pigment melanin.

[citation needed]The origin of "mehndi" is from the Sanskrit word "mendhika," which refers to the henna plant that releases a red dye.

[5] According to A Dictionary of Urdu, Classical Hindi and English, mehndi also refers to "the marriage-feast on the occasion of the bride's hands and feet being stained with henna.

The painted area is then wrapped with tissue, plastic, or medical tape to lock in body heat, creating a more intense colour on the skin.

[citation needed] When first removed, the henna design is pale to dark orange in colour and gradually darkens through oxidation, over the course of 24 to 72 hours.

[citation needed] Likely due to the desire for a "tattoo-black" appearance, some people add the synthetic dye p-phenylenediamine (PPD) to henna to give it a black colour.