The Henna Party

Yesterday was a big day.  It started off with the traditional henna party held at aunt Pami's house. Henna is the traditional decoration of the bride but the guests get small decorations on their hands as well if they choose.  The house and yard were beautifully decorated with strings of flowers and leaves.  The entire back yard was under an organza canopy.

The bride and groom were then seated in front of a flower laden window.  A bowl of tumeric was placed in front of them and one by one the guests took turns rubbing a bit of tumeric on their arms and face.  Some of them took money and waved it over their heads and dropping it in their laps.  

Following that the henna artists started applying the henna to the hands and feet of the bride.  This took about an hour.  The guests were decorated after the bride was finished.

Then it was my turn.  The guests just get the hands done.  Such fun.  

As the henna dries it flakes off and leaves the orange underneath.  In the next 48 hours the color will deepen to a brown color. Because this is done a couple of days before the wedding by the wedding day it is at its best.  In a week or two the color will eventually fade away.