Mehndi Workshop at The Table We Make
Cultural Heritage, Storytelling & Community Workshops
As part of The Table We Make exhibition and Eid celebration at St Margaret's House, I facilitated a community mehndi workshop celebrating the cultural traditions and stories associated. We wanted to celebrate Eid al-Adha by learning about the significance and preciousness of mehndi.
Project Focus
Exploring the cultural significance of mehndi
Celebrating lived experience and intergenerational knowledge
Creative expression through pattern design
Building community through shared storytelling
Creating an inclusive space for cultural exchange
My Role
Designing and delivering the workshop
Sharing the history and cultural context of henna
Teaching introductory mehndi application techniques
Facilitating group discussion and storytelling
Creating a welcoming space for participants to connect
Creative Process
Alongside applying mehndi, participants were invited to reflect on their own relationships with mehndi.
Together we shared stories of:
Family traditions surrounding Eid and celebrations
Henna paste being made from the plant by grandparents and relatives
Rituals such as using lemon and sugar to deepen the colour and help designs last
Memories passed down through generations
The personal and cultural meanings attached to mehndi
These conversations highlighted how the practice of mehndi preserves cultural knowledge while creating opportunities for people to learn from one another.
Collaboration
This workshop was delivered as part of The Table We Make exhibition and Eid celebrations, in collaboration with artist Shahena Begum and St Margaret's House.
Outcome
The workshop became about sharing memories, celebrating cultural heritage and building connections through storytelling and practice. Participants left with new creative skills, and a deeper understanding of the diverse traditions surrounding mehndi.