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Mehndi

मेहंदी
MEHN-dee

Temporary body art made by applying a paste of crushed henna leaves to the skin.

Appears as an answer in MG Mini #917.

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Meaning & usage

Mehndi is both the paste made from crushed henna (Lawsonia inermis) leaves and the intricate temporary tattoo it creates when applied to the skin. The dye stains the skin a rich brown-red and lasts a week or two. Indian, Pakistani and Bangladeshi weddings include a dedicated mehndi ceremony where the bride's hands and feet are decorated. Style traditions vary — Arabic mehndi favours bold floral lines; Indian and Pakistani designs are denser and finer.

In a sentence

Her mehndi was still dark a week after the wedding.

Common spelling variants

  • Mehendi
  • Henna

Mehndi is the English spelling used in MG Mini #917.

As seen in crosswords

Mehndi is a 6-letter answer. A typical clue:

“Temporary body art made by applying a paste of crushed henna leaves to the skin” (6)

Play the crossword that uses it — MG Mini #917

Category: Arts Origin: Hindi Script: Hindi

Related words

  • Lehenga — Long, full Indian skirt, usually worn with a fitted blouse and dupatta for festive occasions.
  • Bindi — Decorative mark or jewel worn on the forehead, traditionally by Hindu women.
  • Bhangra — High-energy Punjabi folk dance, also a globally popular music genre.
  • Dhoti — Traditional Indian men's garment — a long unstitched cloth wrapped around the waist and legs.
  • Teeka — A mark or symbol on the forehead, often used in religious or cultural contexts.
  • Hindustan — Historical Persian-derived name for the Indian subcontinent or for North India.

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