Traditional Pregnancy Henna Art

Mehndi designs for the expectant mother in India is done in her eight month, in a celebration called Athauansa with Rangoli type designs applied to the tummy, and feet and hands. The pregnancy designs from India henna mehndi, parallel the art of  'Rangoli', In the Hindu faith, it is very sacred. The belief is that Deities reside within the various symbols drawn. Rangoli is the traditional floor patterns characteristic of the puja room (a room for prayer). An elder women creates these beautiful prayers in the morning with rice flour at daybreak, and sweeps all away every evening. This spritual act thus makes her the intercessor between her family and the gods who protect them.
Henna customers and artists will be expanding their understanding of the cultural context of henna in India India's Hindu culture and traditional models of origins. This image below is by Amina of Amina Designs.