Mehndi designs and what they mean

Mehndi is a secret language,a language of symbol through meaning and specific signs and patterns, the use of symbols are universal as Loretta Roome describes as "voice of unconcious and ancient".Patterns have been created by different people with different personalities with differnt goals in life.They have been created with the influence of maths,science,art and religion been the main infleuence with the use of tantric signs.these are signs used as apart of rituals or prayer,etc.Loretta discribes patterns as a decorativeart that reflects nature,so are the different styles of mehndi greatly influenced by geography and places that it is practiced".

According to Loretta all symbols begin with "bija"meaning kennel and seed with added geometric forms,she says the "bindu" meaning point,is the starting pint from which everything emanates and merges.

symbols common in mehndi are sun,moon,stars,which refers to the deep,lonlasting love between husband and wife.
Flowers,sweets,games,gameboards,vines,waves,scorpions,peacocks,parrots,pickles,people,sweetmeats,pots,musical instruments,elephants,fans,feathers,fabric and flames are symbols that I have noticed in mehndi designs.I think these symbols have significance and relative meaning to life,earth, individual and the community,like discribed by loretta, "symbols are the nature of human emotion".

fruits flowers and vines are joyous symbols,the lotus and roses are commonly used aswel as the mango shape mostly in bridal mehndi,this represents virginity.Whilst vines and creepers are known to grow towards the light so they symbol devotion,evoking tenderness.

Animal motifs that are usually used are birds especially peacocks because of its beauty its considered the companion of the wife longing for her husband in time of seperation.It is said thet the beauty of the peacock will distract the woman of her grief.

Loretta speaks about a style of mehndi called " New Mehndi", its a style where focus is on using positive and negative spaces in a creative manner almost like a white wall behind a painting.