Last Thursday, Babbio Atrium was filled with the sounds and smells of Indian culture as the Indian Undergraduate Association (IUA) hosted their fall semester Henna Night.
The Stevens student body came out to experience traditional Indian food and music and for the ability to get custom body art, called henna, done by IUA members. According to IUA President and Stevens junior Naiya Patel, this event has been going on since she was a freshman and due to the popularity, wanted to continue the tradition.
“It’s been going on for a good five or six years,” said Patel. “Everyone loves it, so we have it every semester.”
Sophomores Erica Stevens and Jordana Approvato came out to the event after Stevens attended last year’s Henna Night.
“I thought [last year’s event] was really awesome and then saw it in the [Student Life Newsletter],” said Stevens.
Junior Melissa Tamarin, who was doing Approvato’s henna, came to the event because she “likes drawing on people.”
Likewise, Freshman Gilia Smith attended with prompting from her friend and because she thinks henna is “cool.”
“I never got this kind of design,” said Smith as Junior Vidhi Sonani was creating a design on Smith’s foot. “I usually just get [henna] at the boardwalk – Chinese characters and things like that.”
A member of IUA since her freshman year, Sonani always enjoyed getting henna done and decided to begin doing it herself.
“My mom asked me why I didn’t try doing it,” said Sonani. “I was always afraid to but just went for it once.”
Henna is a form of decoration which Patel equates to makeup. In Indian culture, henna is traditionally done on women when they get married, and the designs can take up to six hours. Traditionally, as IUA Vice President Kevin Mehta pointed out, the husband’s initials are hidden somewhere within the designs on his bride’s hands for him to find. According to Patel, Indians believe that the darker the henna the more strongly or longer your husband will love you – some women use lemon juice to darken the color.
Composed of mashed plant leaves, henna is an all-natural, nonpoisonous dye used for both temporary tattoos and hair dye. The tattoos will fade over a period of two to three weeks.
Freshman Ashna Manhas, who was getting henna done by sophomore Usman Shah, promoted henna, even highlighting the dye’s ability to repel mosquitos.
“I really like henna and promoting culture,” said Manhas, when asked why she chose to attend.
The next opportunity to experience Indian culture via the IUA is at their Diwali show on November 14 at 7:30 p.m. in Walker Gym. They will celebrate the Indian New Year via both student and outside performers followed by a full course Indian meal. All undergraduate students receive free entry.
