Challu, having been to a weekend wedding, arrived at our house with her hand covered in henna tattoo.

The henna tattoo is extremely common in India. It is called mehndi It is custom for the bride (and sometimes groom) to have elaborate tattoos applied prior to the wedding. Each female guest also gets the treatment!! Many times scores of tattoo artists are brought in to apply the henna for big weddings. It is also popular for celebrating a new baby, birthday gatherings as well as other festivals here. The henna stains the skin cells and never fades. It disappears only when each layer of stained skin has been exfoliated. It can last weeks or even months!

Lauren was enamoured by it and the next day Challu brought some henna for Lauren's hand as well.