Multicultural week Day 3

Day One morning | Day One afternoon | Day Two | Day Three | Day Four

Indian Day 3: "Mendhi" and "Henna"

Reception are the first to try it out

Nasreen came into school to explain how this plant, grown in hot climates of northern India, Egypt and Pakistan, is used to decorate hands at a time of celebration.

Henna is the Arabic word for the same thing.

The branches are cut off, the leaves separated, dried and crushed into a powder.

Mendhi leaves

The leaves are mixed with eucalyptus oil, lemon juice and hot water to make a paste which is put onto the hand through a plastic tube.

Mendhi is not associated with any religion , it is more an act of celebrating deriving from India. For example at someone's birthday, a plate of nuts and sweets would be passed over the head of the birthday person. After every 7th pass, a sweet or nut could be eaten. No presents as we know them would be given, but Mendhi used.

When Mendhi is applied, it feels cold. The human body temperature makes it turn into an orange/ red colour.

The children were warned about "Black Mendhi", used at seaside resorts and not the natural product, containing many dangerous chemicals. Only red Mendhi should be used.

In time (about 4 days) it washes off (well this pupil in Miss Page's class hopes so!)

Alice is used as a demonstration model

Isn't that beautiful?!

Liam in Mrs Flynne's class must have done this before!!

Other pupils worked on paper designs

Some impressive one's here. Would they translate onto the back of the hand? We'll know tomorrow

Design complete

Meanwhile Reception come in costume
(Their costume day was for one day only as it's hard keeping paint of Reception clothing!)

He was asked to "Smile for the camera!" Honestly!

Pretty pinks and reds

Puzzled about where to but the next piece.

And Bethan, hardly reception age, missed out on being photographed on Tuesday We put that right at the end of another fascinating day.

There's only Friday left!

M. Tibbetts Thursday, 04 November 2004

Day One morning | Day One afternoon | Day Two | Day Three | Day Four