Henna Art Adds Flair To Deepavali Preparations In Klang

KLANG, Oct 19 (Bernama) -- Little India along Jalan Tengku Kelana is buzzing with activity as the Indian community makes final preparations and shops for the Festival of Lights.

A Bernama check today saw shoppers filling rows of stores selling clothing and prayer items, while henna artists were meticulously drawing intricate designs on customers’ hands.

Henna artist Isaac Raj, 25, said customers are typically charged between RM10 and RM50, depending on the design, motif, and colour chosen.

He said the henna art business has grown steadily over the years, with the emergence of new, high-quality henna brands, allowing entrepreneurs like him to expand their business to meet diverse customer demands.

“Just like food, customers have different tastes. That’s why I offer a range of henna options, priced from as low as RM10 up to RM50.

“Actually, some designs can cost hundreds of ringgit, but skilled artists are able to create patterns that look just as beautiful as the more expensive ones,” he told Bernama.

With nearly 10 years of experience, Isaac said the motifs most often requested by customers include flowers, leaves, peacocks, and geometric patterns, which bring out the beauty and festive charm of the celebration.

One of the customers, P. Lallytha, 50, from Puchong said henna art is traditionally worn by women to enhance their elegance and complement their saree attire when visiting or welcoming guests during Deepavali.

“Every Deepavali, I bring my own family here to get henna done. It’s much easier now since henna comes in tubes and takes less than 15 minutes to apply compared to the old method of grinding henna leaves.

“Even children enjoy it, as the henna can be rinsed off quickly and they can choose from a variety of designs offered by the artists,” she said.

Meanwhile, R. Gayathiry, 21, said henna is always the final touch to her family’s Deepavali preparations, ensuring the intricate patterns last throughout the celebrations.

“We’ll settle everything else first, buying clothes, decorating the house, and preparing ingredients for food and sweets, before coming to Little India to get our henna done.

“The day before Deepavali is the best time to apply it. The later you do it, the longer it lasts. With the price and design options available, it’s really worth it, especially for children, who look so lovely with henna on their hands,” she said.

-- BERNAMA