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Mehndi or Henna is derived from the Sanskrit word mendhikā. The use of mehndi and turmeric is described in the earliest Hindu Vedic ritual books. Haldi (staining oneself with turmeric paste) as well as mehndi are Vedic customs, intended to be a symbolic representation of the outer and the inner sun. Vedic customs are centered around the idea of "awakening the inner light". Traditional Indian designs are of representations of the sun on the palm, which, in this context, is intended to represent the hands and feet.

Practiced mainly in India, mehndi also known as henna in the western world, is the application of a temporary form of skin decoration, popularized by Indian cinema and entertainment industry, the people in Nepal, Pakistan, Bangladesh and the Maldives as well as by expatriate communities from those countries also use mehndi. This tradition has spread to exist among some Arab Women particularly the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf nationals. Mehndi decorations became fashionable in the West in the late 1990s, where they are sometimes called henna tattoos.

Mehndi is typically applied during special Hindu weddings and Hindu festivals like Karva Chauth, Vat Purnima, Diwali, Bhai Dooj and Teej. In Hindu festivals, many women have Henna applied to their hands and feet. It is usually drawn on the palms and feet, where the design will be clearest due to contrast with the lighter skin on these surfaces, which naturally contain less of the pigment melanin. Henna was originally used as a form of decoration mainly for Hindu brides. Muslims of Indian subcontinent also apply Mendi during their festivals like Eid-ul-Fitr and Eid-ul-Adha.

Mehndi is a ceremonial art form which originated in ancient India and Pakistan. Intricate patterns of mehndi are typically applied to brides before wedding ceremonies. The bridegroom is also painted in some parts of India. In Rajasthan, the grooms are given designs that are often as elaborate as those for brides. In Assam, apart from marriage, it is broadly used by unmarried women during Rongali bihu, but there are no restrictions on its use by married women.

Muslims in India also started to use it as an indication of coming of age. Henna is now also used in some Gulf States, where the night before the wedding night is dedicated to decorating the bride with henna, and called "Henna night". Also, as an alternative to a 'hen party' in the Western countries, some families have "Mehndi nights," or "henna nights," similar to the ones in the Gulf States. The bride and also close friends of the bride have their hands, arms and even feet decorated with henna. In the Middle East and Africa, it is common for women to apply henna to their fingernails and toenails and to their hands.

And to those of you wondering, the spelling difference with and without the "e" in the middle "Meh'e'ndi" and "Mehndi", occurs because of the pronunciation difference in India. The North Indians have a different accent and say ''Mehn-di" ... otherwise the more proper way to write and the only written form in Hindi is ''Mehendi'', but both are equally right, so just use the form you like the best :-)