Indian tattoos at MiticaIndia. A 1600 years old tradition.

The MiticaIndia Festival helding on March 26th to 28th in the Carrarafiere fair complex  in Marina di Carrara, organized by Compagnia della Gerla together with Amadio Bianchi and Emy Blesio, will be an opportunity to show the public the wonderful Mehndi, the typical Indian henna tattoos. The keens will witness the creation of a fantastic tattoo done by experts. There will be specific areas and sections within the exhibition complex,  completely dedicated to the tattoos. Interested persons can also enjoy these fantastic painted decorations on both the Indian dancers during the performances and on an Indian bride.

Tradition wants the tattoo be applied the day before the wedding at the mehndi ceremony, which is integral part of the wedding regardless the bride religious affiliation. It is a sort of hen party - today in the cities of India a real party - with all the bride’s friends and relatives that while decorating the hands, arms, feet and legs, sing traditional songs or dance choreography imitating Bollywood hits. Any celebration or party is a good reason for Mehndi in India. It is believed that the darker is the color, the deeper is the love that will bind the couple.

The Bharatanatyam dancers, a classical South India dance, paint their hands and feets palms with wide circles of henna, as well as cover the entire terminal phalanx of all fingers. The beauty of these temporary tattoos kept the tradition intact in India up to this days extending Mehndi ritual beyond the borders and reviving it at home as well. Rock stars like Madonna and Bjork have performed in recent years showing off intricate arabesques henna tatoos.