A small crowd gathered at Masterton Trade Aid on Thursday to participate in a henna workshop, as part an Indian-themed Fair Trade Fortnight
Hiral Patel, a shop assistant at East Side Super Store, has been in New Zealand for slightly more than five years.
She said she is not exactly an expert
in the art of henna but has been improving her skill since learning as a child in India.
Miss Patel sometimes copies the designs she does from books.
"You can do any pattern you like," she said.
Henna is traditionally used at weddings and big festivals, sometimes covering the hands, arms and feet.
Brides often have their groom's initials painted in henna on their palms as part of the wedding celebrations.
"The darker the colour, the more the husband loves the bride," said Miss Patel.
Henna takes around half an hour to dry before it can be washed off and leaves a red-brown stain which can last a few weeks.
