Tatoo [painting mehindi]

Before most weddings in India—whether Hindu, Muslim, or Sikh—henna (mehndi) designs are applied to the hands and feet of the bride during a festive gathering in which only women traditionally participate. In the foreground of this painting one woman is shown painting such designs on the left hand of another. The woman being adorned is probably a bride, as designs are also visible on one of her feet. The wearing of mehndi designs is not restricted to weddings. The color red, which is considered auspicious, is appropriate to celebratory occasions of various kinds. This painting comes from the region of Mithila, home to a distinctive practice of domestic wall painting that is traditionally performed by village women for marriages and festivals. In the late 1960s the Indian government made an effort to preserve the tradition and empower the women of this historically underprivileged area by encouraging them to create their paintings on paper. As a result, Mithila painting—which is now taken up by men as well as women—has become one of the best-known contemporary genres in Indian art.