Filipino Wedding Glossary › Mehndi
Mehndi
Pronunciation: MEN-dee
Origin: Hindi and Urdu, henna art tradition with South Asian roots, occasionally adapted in Filipino weddings
Decorative henna art applied to the bride's hands and feet, traditional in South Asian weddings.
Mehndi is the application of henna paste in intricate patterns on the bride's hands and feet, ceremonially done before a wedding in many South Asian communities.
In the Philippines, mehndi is not a Filipino-rooted practice; couples who include it usually do so as a personal aesthetic choice or because of South Asian family heritage. The Tausug community has its own henna practice called inai.
If you are planning a mehndi event, work with an artist who specializes in the tradition rather than improvising.