Tales of craftsmen behind fascinating henna patterns

By Erisha Sharma,Kathmandu, Aug. 11: "Living in Kathmandu is very costly for a family with a low income like ours. I run a small craft shop with my husband, but with this, we barely make our ends meet. So as a side hustle, I apply henna ranging from NRs 100 to NRs 300 depending on the pattern," said Rita Thapa Magar, a craft shop owner in Basantapur.

The month of Shrawan has brought a surge of colour to streets — not just in green bangles and red saris, but in the intricate henna patterns blooming on women’s hands, filling every street with a warm, earthy, and lightly herbal scent.

The number of people wearing henna has drastically increased in recent days. Shrawan is by far the busiest month for me," said Rita. She is living in Kathmandu with her husband and three children.

For numerous families, henna art provides a side hustle for extra income, as it blends tradition with livelihood. The seasonal demand helps keep this age-old craft alive.

“Henna is not just work for me, but a hope. I apply henna by the roadside near New Road without a proper stall or any resources — just some basic skills. Every time someone stops for a design, especially during Shrawan, it makes me feel stronger and happier,” said Ramesh Jha, a young vendor who learned henna art during a tough time while working in Punjab. Ramesh works as a helper in a clothes shop but applies henna as a side hustle. He admits he sometimes asks for higher prices and jokes that some people call his art expensive or even a scam, but he also added that, “It’s how I make my living.”

“He asked me to follow him to a back alley where he offered me a seat, but when I asked about the price, he didn’t give me a clear answer,” said Kritika Pandey, a local resident. She also added, “The henna didn’t look professional at all, and I felt uncomfortable the whole time. When he finally asked for more money than I expected, I felt completely scammed and disappointed. Next time, I’ll only go to a proper salon.”

Due to similar reasons, many customers mentioned avoiding roadside henna. This makes customers feel uncomfortable and scammed, so they prefer salons or trusted artists instead.

"As a beautician and the owner of a parlour, I have been applying henna for more than six years. We usually apply henna in packages like wedding packages or Shrawan special packages. But not everyone prefers it, so for those, we apply henna of their choice from a range of NRs 300 to NRs 400," said Mina Kumari Shahi. She also mentioned giving home service for an extra Rs. 200, especially on occasions like Mehandi functions or weddings, but for the bride, it is included in the package and applying henna to others costs more money.

Many customers prefer parlours for henna, as in parlours they expect better quality and uniform prices. Roadside vendors are often seen as less reliable, which makes many avoid them.

“I have been applying henna for more than 40 years. Over the years, I have learned the patience and skill needed to create beautiful designs. Henna is not just decoration — it’s a connection to our culture and traditions. I take pride in keeping this art alive. I always dreamt of opening a henna parlour, but I haven’t been able to do so because of financial constraints. Running a salon requires investment, and with limited income, it’s been difficult to afford the costs involved," said Ganesh Yadav, a local vendor in Patan.

“I prepare the henna paste myself and apply it by the roadside near New Road, ranging from NRs 150 to NRs 250. Making henna the right way takes time and care, but it helps me keep our culture alive and earn some income for my family,” said Kamala Sah.

Kamala Rai mentioned that she makes henna paste by mixing powdered leaves with lemon juice or water, adding essential oils and sugar to improve colour and stickiness. Natural ingredients like coffee or beetroot juice can deepen the stain, making the designs vibrant and long-lasting, and sell each cone for NRs 30, which is more than factory-processed henna.

"I also sell henna to a small parlour in Lalitpur. However, nowadays, most people apply henna themselves or use ready-made paste, which is easy to find in markets and shops everywhere. This has made it harder for local henna vendors like me, but I still enjoy sharing this art with the community," added Kamala.

(Sharma is an intern at TRN)