A blend of traditional and contemporary henna designs by Makki Mehendi Creations

By M.S. Samsul Makkiya

Mehendi (henna) in India is a temporary form of ‘skin decoration’ traditionally drawn in delicate, intricate, exquisite patterns on the hands and feet of women, typically for any festival or occasion, especially for big celebrations like weddings. 

Mehendi has great significance in all eastern wedding traditions. The ‘Mehendi Ceremony’ is one of the most important and grandest pre-wedding functions. It is something like the ‘bachelorettes’ with all the bride’s female relatives and friends getting together to celebrate. In some religions, unless the mother-in-law has applied the first dot of mehendi to the bride’s hand, the application cannot go ahead. The mehendi dot is considered to be a symbolic blessing, bestowal of which permits the new daughter-in-law to beautify herself for the groom. 

There’s nothing sacred or spiritual about it, but it is considered beneficial and lucky, as well as beautiful. The designs adorn both the front and back of the hands, sometimes all the way up to the elbows and the feet, sometimes all the way up to the knees. Some popular beliefs are that the darker the design, the more her in-laws and in particular, the husband, will love her and that a darker design signifies the strength of love/affection/passion in the marriage.

Art is my first love. I love drawing. I enjoy being creative. Mehendi became another outlet for my creative expression. I didn’t study art when I was schooling; it started as a hobby back in my school Colombo Muslim Ladies College around the age of 16.

Some of my close friends thought I was good enough to do mehendi as an ‘on the side’ job, especially around Eid-ul-Fitr and Divali. I also did mehendi as one of the many fundraising activities. My experience was growing. Though using henna to draw was not at first easy, as one would use a pencil on paper, my determination never wavered. I got better with practice, patience, and time.

I think the term ‘professional’ is a relative one, with regards to art. ‘Makki Mehendi Creations’ was founded as the way in 2006. Nonetheless, I started doing mehendi more regularly. At first, I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do or what was going to happen, then I decided to do mehendi full time, definitely by appointments only. I have had growing success ever since.

I never had any formal training; application of henna came naturally as my hands were already set from all the years of drawing. But it did not mean I was perfect when I started; years of practice played a significant role. In addition, I did quite a bit of research online – articles, videos, journals – and did many ‘experiments’ before I felt confident enough to pursue mehendi ‘professionally’. I also studied the designs and I was putting my own twist on them; even saw some breath-taking photographs online, of henna on candles and wooden frames. Of course, I tried it out for fun, and was again successful, though my parents encouraged me to pursue art at tertiary level believing that career opportunities were lacking locally, 

I am most creative when I am alone. Also nature inspires me the most. Seeing the success of other artists, regardless of their creative genre, also inspires me to be better. 

I don’t have a particular style, but I try to be different, mixing the traditional with the contemporary. Though, my favourite style is traditional Indian, Pakistani and Gulf, which is known for being very intricate in the amount of surface area covered, almost glove-like in design. I also embellish my designs with coloured paints, glitter and stones, especially on my brides for that extra special effect. It’s a delicate art-form, with much culture attached to it. There is something special in maintaining tradition. It’s very time consuming, but I enjoy doing it – it’s my therapy.

Most of my clients tend to be brides; then there are my special occasion clients during mehendi parties, night of the henna, casual mehendi, sweet 16 party, festivals, birthday parties (children and adults), holiday mehendi, engagement functions, mehendi courses and many more, most of whom reach me extensively by word of mouth, and by Facebook. In addition, with the help of my mom and friends.

I can safely say that I am never bored – environments change, and I get to meet lots of different and interesting people. There are other areas that I would definitely like to pursue (creatively speaking), and with the freedom that I have doing what I do. So, I do it as a hobby and as a way of documenting my mehendi works. Nonetheless, wherever time takes me by the grace of Allah. I know that I must stay true to myself. I’ve had international persons contacting me about my art. Who knows, I may very well be making trips around the region, and perhaps beyond, not only offering my talent, but seeking to culturally enrich those that I meet along the way.  I am happy doing what I love. I consider myself a successful artist. I am what I always wanted to be

(M.S. Samsul Makkiya can be reached at Makki Mehendi Creations, 314/1, Galle Road, Mount Lavinia. Hotline: 07771000871/0112731495, Facebook: /makki.mehendi.creations/, Instagram: /makki_mehendi_creations/ and email: [email protected].)