Me Indian Mehndi-Henna Patterns 2011

For our Eidmas celebrations (yes I call it Eidmas) I decorated people in a natural tattoo known as henna, or mehndi.
Henna is a paste dye made from the crushed leaves of a tropical mignonette tree. It's safe, temporary, leaves a stained color ranging from pale orange to terracotta brown and is a global Muslim tradition at festivals, particularly in South Asia and North Africa. And I'm Pakistani-Indian-African. Y'don't get more ethnically festive than that.

The mehndi is still wet. Waiting for it to dry is just as frustrating as holding a henna cone from 2009 that leaks and should've been binned. Well done me for "waste management". The swirly pattern is a mixture of Indian and Arabic designs.

My beautiful sister created this pattern on her own arm by herself. Kudos kiddo.

A close up of the pattern shows leaves, petals and paisleys. You may copy these designs. Right click images to save and find them on flickr, link below.

Merry post-Eidmas. Please continue the Ramadan spirit by donating a small amount to charity each day and maintaining your prayers. Insha'Allah, God willing.

Images {Zaufishan on flickr}