By Michela Gritti
The Muslim Student Association (MSA) hosted Henna Night on Wednesday, Sept. 10, in the Student Center, welcoming students to learn about the cultural significance of henna while creating their own designs.
The event featured snacks, drinks and tables with stencils for students to apply henna themselves. A PowerPoint presentation explained the origins and history of henna, a natural dye made from the leaves of the Lawsonia inermis plant that has been used for thousands of years across Africa, the Middle East and South Asia. The presentation also highlighted the symbolism behind different designs across regions.
“We got to see so many new faces that we haven’t seen before as well as spread our culture a bit more into the community,” said Marwa Elmachiadi, MSA secretary.
Students expressed excitement during the evening. One attendee said, “Wow, this is so cool, I never knew this much about henna before!” Another added, “I loved how easy it was to interact with everyone!”
Board members present included Vice President Sara Elmachiadi, Secretary Marwa Elmachiadi and Treasurer Edith Salazar.
“Tonight’s turnout was amazing,” Marwa said. “We got to share our values of community, culture and awareness while having a lot of fun!”
I would like this to be layout as a sidebar or fact box, as is mainly a descriptive/feature paragraph: Traditionally, henna is applied in intricate patterns during weddings and religious festivals, symbolizing joy, beauty and good fortune. Its roots trace back to ancient Egypt, where it was used for body art, hair dye and even to stain the fingers and toes of mummies.