Chaand Raath- Literally "the night of the moon ". This is the night before Eid Al Fitr or Eid Al Adha. Traditionally, in the Indian sub-continent, women get together and have henna designs printed on their hands or go shopping for Eid clothes and bangles. It is a festive, joyous evening.
The author of lovely children's book "A Day with the Dinosaurs" had arranged a chaand raath party at her house. Her friend Jane had offered to apply mehndi to any girls or mothers who wanted it. It was heartening to see her create intricate patterns with such gusto and hard to believe Jane was as American as apple pie on the Fourth of July ; had grown up on a farm in Iowa. The author wondered if she would have had the courage to do what all these convert friends had done and take on a new faith with all its cultural baggage AND expectations. She smiled at the merry scene; mother and daughter hunched over at the dining table painting tiny hands with tattoos ranging from daisies, paislies and even the One Direction logo.
Jane had brought her daughter Rana along too as she was home for the holidays before going off to begin a Phd program. Jane had universal maternal concerns. She wondered how it was to be a child in a bi-cultural marriage. Did you choose one side or another? How would things turn out once Rana had moved to the West Coast? Would she become a complete Californian? Rana would miss her family but on the other hand had been away from home a while now and was excited about moving. She couldn't wait to be exposed to such a prestigous program in a city known for its diversity and vibrancy. She was already a specialist in archaeology, geology, fascinated by fossils and marine life. However, Rana had a strong link to her ethnic side too which was how she had ended up becoming today's henna artist.
The authoress hostess waited until all the guests' hands had been tinted with sienna and then quietly asked young Rana if she could have a Jurassic beast painted on her palm, explaining that she could not miss out on the chance to have a real paleontologist paint her palm. The valiant exhausted doctoral student willingly acquiesced. She straightened her back briefly.
"For you, I choose a spinosaurus. It was discovered in Egypt." she said.
"Here" said Jane. "I think I found an image of one on the internet,". Mother and daughter pored over the web-site until Rana had the desired design in her head.
"I think you're ready to do this, " said Jane.
2 comments:
That is so darn cool I am wondering how many little boys will want henna on their hands!
I tell you, that is the career back-up plan, set up the card table on Telegraph Ave. next to the tie-dye t-shirt guy and henna hands all day long.
Post script:
Jane left the party feeling a sudden rush of gratitude at the richness and diversity of her life.
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