Henna: a cultural tapestry of beauty, tradition, and symbolism / Noraziah Mohd Amin

The English term, “henna” is derived from the Arabic word, “al-ḥinna” and the term, “henna” is also used to describe the dye made from the henna plant and the practice of creating temporary tattoos using these colors (The Art of Henna in Muslim Cultures, (n.d). Henna, which is scientifically known as Lawsonia inermis, is a plant from the Lythracea family that encompasses over 500 plant species, including pomegranate (Ariffin et al., 2020). Henna wearing is an integral part of cultural festivities and traditional rituals. Henna, which has a long history dating back centuries, has become an essential aspect of Malaysian culture. Henna is a popular plant in Malay society and t is often used as a pigmenting agent and for adorning brides during traditional wedding ceremonies (Ariffin et al., 2020). In Malay culture, “malam berinai” or a henna wearing night is arranged before the wedding ceremony on the next day to ensure the reddish pigment left by applying henna paste on the skin stays fresh and vibrant red.