Designing modern mehndi trends

Surat: From Benaras ghats to Hong Kong's skyline, beachside weddings in Goa to a fetish for cameras and cricket - just as wedding themes change with each passing year, so do trends for mehndi designs in Surat.
Brides-to-be are getting adventurous and preferring special as well as specific artwork on their palms. "Designing mehndi for a bride is an arduous but creatively engaging process nowadays.We have a detailed sit-down with the bride and listen to her ideas about what she has on mind. We include her and interests, fiance's likings, wedding ensemble and family's cultural/religious leanings that allow us to create a canvas of designs that will be memorable, unique and contemporary," says popular mehndi artist Nimisha Parekh.
Progressing from pious shlokas to wine glasses, bride and groom caricatures to warli figures, dancing dames and portraits, innovative and intricate patterns cost anything from Rs 25,000 to lakhs in suburban Surat.
"Some of our most-loved designs have broken the traditional mehndi convention and cannot be bracketed as Indian/Arabic or any other type of art. These are a fusion that get created with the bride, her family and groom in mind," says Nimisha. Newly married bride Chandni Shah wanted the fun and flavour of her Goa wedding along with the cultural traditions of the wedding ceremony conducted. "I discussed my ideas with the artist and the end result was breathtaking as it revealed the entire scenario merging culture with cool attitude!" she says.
Even trained mehndi appliers are now signing up for advanced courses. "Clients are constantly looking for something different these days. In spite of being in the business for more than nine years now, I have joined a programme that costs Rs 30,000 which will provide me with information about contemporary adaptation in application of mehndi," says Mayuri Patel, mehndi artist in Katargam area who charges from Rs 250 up to Rs 2500 per pattern.
With migrant communities now settled in Surat, occasions for mehndi application come by more often with saawan, teej, karva chauth, etc, besides weddings. Surat's fashionistas are enhancing their palms with exclusive temporary tattoos made with mehndi to enhance the beauty of their palms and feet.