Diwali, also known as the Festival of Lights, is celebrated with joy and grandeur across India. It symbolizes the triumph of good over evil and light over darkness. This year, Diwali will begin on Thursday, October 31st, 2024, and the celebrations will extend over five days. Along with the lighting of diyas, exchanging gifts, and preparing sweets, many households engage in creative traditions like making rangoli at their doorsteps and applying intricate mehendi designs.
Picture this: the soft glow of diyas flickers around your home, the aroma of freshly fried sweets fills the air, and there's joyful chatter as family members gather to celebrate. Amidst all this, applying mehendi becomes a calming ritual for many women, a cherished moment to sit down, unwind, and indulge in the tradition of adorning their hands. Beyond being an art form, mehendi is believed to bring good fortune and prosperity making it an essential part of the Diwali celebration. As a new mom or an expecting mom, this is something which will immediately lift up your mood and make you feel beautiful! The beauty of this tradition is that you don’t need to be an expert to create lovely designs. Here are some simple yet stunning mehendi patterns you can try yourself at home:
1. Floral Motifs and Paisleys
These patterns are easy to make—perfect for a festive look. Start by drawing simple flowers or leaves on your palms and wrists, and add swirling paisley designs along your fingers. The best part? You don’t need elaborate skills—just a steady hand and a bit of patience. This can be easily done at home!
Pro Tip: Practice on paper first or use ready made mehendi cones, which make it easy to create clean lines.
2. Mandala Mehendi Designs
Mandalas, with their circular symmetry are not only visually beautiful but also symbolic of harmony and unity—making them a meaningful choice for Diwali. You can draw a circle in the centre of your palm and build patterns outward, adding dots, petals, and tiny accents as you go. There is no fixed pattern, you can use whichever design comes to your mind, Use a stencil or a pen to draw the perfect circles first and then fill it up with the mehendi design!
Quick Tip: Use a small dot pattern to fill in the gaps giving the design a professional look.
3. Modern Mehendi Designs
If you’re short on time or prefer something simple yet stylish, go for minimalist designs. Tiny stars, vines, or abstract lines along your fingers give a chic look without the need for intricate artistry. These designs are perfect for busy moms who want a festive touch without spending too much time on it. Mehendi designs called “arabic designs” are very popular today where you apply the mehendi only to certain areas of the hand like the palm and three fingers and leave the rest untouched. Its minimalist but very classy!
Idea: Try half-hand designs—just on the fingers or the back of your hands—so they’re quick and easy.
4. Full-Hand Traditional Mehendi
For those who love to go all out, full-hand mehendi filled with peacocks, lotus flowers, or intricate grids is the way to go. These detailed designs look grand and festive, ideal if you want to celebrate in traditional style. You can involve family or friends to help with the design, making it a fun bonding activity. This takes time and its best done as a group so that its a fun activity!
Hack: If you’re not confident about freehand drawing, use stencils or follow mehendi design books and images to create professional-looking designs effortlessly. Many prefer to hire a professional to do these designs but if you are ready to have some fun and try something new, you can do this at home by yourself too!
Diwali mehendi is not just about the design—it's about the joy of slowing down, the excitement of seeing the patterns darken, and the compliments that follow. As mothers, when we are so pressed for time and we forget to prioritise ourself, this simple festive activity can really boost the spirit!
All of us have tips to make the mehendi darker and last longer!! Whats your secret tip? Share it in the comments and inspire others in our community to try something new this festive season!