Mehndi is the application of Henna as a temporary form of skin decoration in South Asia, the Southwest Asia, North Africa and the Horn of Africa,
as well as by expatriate communities from these areas. Mehndi
decorations became fashionable in the West in the late 1990s, where
they are sometimes called henna tattoos. In Kerala henna is known as mylanchi, in Tamil it is known as Marudhani and in Telugu it is known as gorintaku and widely used by the Muslim community. Henna is typically applied during special occasions like weddings
and festivals. It is usually drawn on the palms and feet, where the
color will be darkest because the skin contains higher levels of keratin which binds temporarily to lawsone, the colorant of henna. Henna was used as a form of decoration mainly for brides.
The term henna tattoo is inaccurate, because tattoos are defined as permanent surgical insertion of pigmentsunderneath the skin, as opposed to pigments resting on the surface.