Bit of India Comes to Gloucester Twp. Library

Henna art, a fad that caught on in America in the late '90s, can be found at most carnivals, boardwalks and even at retail stores in home kits. Yet, behind this popular alternative to permanent tattoos lies a unique and rich history that traces back to India, a land rich in history and culture. 

Gloucester Township-Blackwood Rotary Public Library will hold a "Henna for Teens" workshop July 26, beginning at 4:30 p.m. The workshop is free and open to all residents.    

All who plan to attend must be 12 to 18 years old and have parental permission prior to attending. Pre-registration is required.    

“We only have a limited number of spaces and each program is filling up quickly,” says Emily Chornimaz, youth services manager of the Camden County Library System.   

This workshop is available through many of the Camden County libraries, however for the July 26 demonstration, organizers are looking at about a 12-kid maximum.   

Henna, or mehndi art, will be demonstrated by Seema Moondra of Enjoy Explore India. She plans to teach local teens the history of the henna plant, including how it is used from everything from medicine to dyes. She also plans to teach the history of henna in India and its ties to cultural traditions, such as music.

"Mehndi is a very big occasion in a wedding and many songs revolve around this tradition," says Moondra. 

Moondra also plans to talk about traditional Indian motifs. All teens will draw their designs on paper and practice how to apply henna from cones. Moondra also plans to transform the workshop space by bringing in textiles and other artifacts from India.  

“We hope that teens will feel like they’ve left New Jersey and have wandered into Mumbai,” says Chornomaz.   

Henna designs are applied to the teen's hands. Parents should be advised that henna art stays on the skin for one to two weeks.    

Ann Marie Latini will oversee the workshop and can be reached at 856-228-0022. Parents can visit the Gloucester Township-Blackwood Rotary Library website to register.