Every person has a need for beauty. From time immemorial, people tend to decorate themselves and their surroundings with images that they observe around.
India is a country not only of lush colors of amazing nature, but also of a variety of magnificent ornaments! Indian patterns, the most popular of which are vegetal, can be seen in architectural forms, interior items, handicrafts, dishes, clothing, fabrics and body jewelry.
The most revered flower and symbol of India is the lotus, the images of which are most often seen in floral ornaments. The second most popular fruit is the mango. Frequent images of trees. In the art of Islamic India (Islam forbids depicting people and animals), they are the only possible decorative elements.
Indians' favorite animals, according to traditional drawings, are elephants, lions and camels. Luxurious birds are also often depicted - peacocks, parrots.
Indian patterns appeal to religioustopics. The most common symbol is Aum (Om), the swastika, and the attributes of the gods - a trident, a drum, a checkmark with a dot in the middle.
Among the geometric and abstract elements, the undisputed leader is Indian cucumber, or paisley. You can often see a stylized image of the sun.
Fancy, complex and original Indian patterns often perform not only an aesthetic function, but also carry a sacred meaning. Most
a vivid confirmation of this is Indian body painting (mehendi, mehindi, mehndi), which has become one of the most recognizable signs of this amazing country.
In ancient India, body patterns served as amulets, protecting their owners from illness, misfortune and even death. Henna drawings were also used to attract love. The exquisite ornament on the hands attracted the eye to the woman during the dance, and the smell of henna mixed with essential oils inflamed passion. It is believed that the images of plants, birds and animals on a woman's body connect her with nature, reproduction, nutrition and growth.
The symbolism of mehendi is manifested in the application of the signs of rupa (corporeal), yati (rebirth), svar (sun), atman (individuality, soul).
Everyday images are quite simple, but for the holidays, girls and women cover their bodies with marvelous flowers, intricate lace motifs and bizarre arabesques that reveal the nature of the celebration. Wedding mehendi is endowed with special meaning. On the eve of the ceremony, experienced relatives for several hours thinthey paint the body of the newlywed with metal or wooden sticks, dedicating her to the secrets of matrimony. Needless to say, than
the more difficult the drawing ended up being, the more prepared the bride turned out to be, and the happier the union was?!
Indian women believe that the wedding mehendi will attract a lot of voluptuousness, love, care into the married life, and will help to keep the husband faithful. The hands, wrists, feet and ankles are painted to the greatest extent, the paint stays here longer due to the peculiarities of the skin. By the way, the drawing on the hands is a kind of guarantor of the honeymoon, since the young wife is traditionally freed from household duties while the wedding painting is preserved on her hands.
Is it any wonder that Indian designs on hands and feet are gaining more and more popularity around the world?
