Tamil brides used to put designs on their hands before the wedding ceremony day. It is a tradition and auspicious thing which will bring her prosperous life to her and her family. This tradition is followed for thousands of years. Those designs are beautiful but are temporary and will stay in hand for 5 -6 days. They are made with Maruthani leaves - Maruthondi leaves. Also it is called as Mehandi or Henna in India and other countries and comes as dried powder in packets. They can give black or red color.
In the Tamil weddings, the leaves are grounded and put on the fingers and both side of the hands with many beautiful designs. It will be kept on the hand for 4-6 hours once dried will give deep red color designs to brown color depending the skin color.
Those leaves are available in the dry zone areas of the world. As Indian and Sri lanka origin people are living all over the world maruthani is available as mehindi paste all over the world where it is purchased by these people.
Different kind of beautiful designs too available as ready made stickers for the users to get beautiful mehindi designs.
Except to Tamil brides, Bharatha natya dancers use this Henna designs on the hands as the hands are used to show different signs and actions. Tamil girls are used to put them on special days like Deepavali and Pongal day
festivals.
