Viginthiny Paramananthan, Staff Writer
Featured image courtesy of Henna Art Club
One of the beautiful things about York, is the many clubs and organizations available for students who have unique tastes. The Henna Art Club aims to introduce the culture of henna to the York community. They teach henna art and application techniques, while sharing the history and science behind it. I’ve had the beautiful designs of henna on my hands and legs, and from personal experience, can say that seeing the final results are breathtaking.
Lalarukh Mahmood, a fourth-year psychology student and the volunteer recruitment director for HAC spoke about the fun aspect of Henna as a form of art. “It’s like painting yourself with beautiful intricate designs. I’ve loved henna ever since I can remember; before I used to put it on mainly for festivities, but soon it turned into an interest and now a hobby that helps me de-stress.”
Henna was originally used by the Egyptians, where women from the higher class would apply henna to their nails, bodies, and hair to make themselves more physically appealing. It then became a popular art form and part of many other traditions in various cultures all around the world. Many South Asian and African brides have decorated their bodies with the beautiful artwork created from the henna plant to beautify themselves.
It is also a tradition for Muslims to get henna the day before Eid, as the Prophet Muhammad and his wives had done during their time. The Prophet, during these special times, would dye his beard and his wives would decorate their hands with henna. To spread the use of henna in different cultures, the Jewish community, primarily from Morocco and Yemen, would also decorate their bodies with henna a week before the wedding, symbolizing the bittersweet separation of the young bride from her family.
Henna is a wonderful tradition that has been passed down from generation to generation and has also spread to various cultures across the world. Henna has evolved to be more than a symbol of respect, love, and tradition. It has become an art form expressed through various designs, applied anywhere on the body, for multiple purposes.
“It’s beautiful and a very unique way of expressing oneself,” says fourth-year psychology student, Swela Bashir. “Also, as a tattoo, it is a way safer (option) than those with ink.”
HAC provides henna application lessons to beginners and experienced users to build their artistic skills and to pass on the traditions of henna to students within the York community.
“I find henna designing to be quite stress relieving,” says Saima Iqbal, president of HAC and a third-year chemistry student. “I started this club in September, 2015, because I was interested in teaching York students the culture of henna and how fun it can be.”
HAC offers henna designing classes all throughout the year and their upcoming classes will be held on March 3 and 15 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. in Winters College, room 012. The club is looking for volunteers and future members who are interested in being a part of this talented group.
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