When should I apply mehndi for Eid?

Apply it the night before Eid. The stain is lightest when the paste comes off and darkens over the next day.

It is the night the new moon is sighted before Eid. In South Asia it is a festive evening of shopping, bangles and mehndi.

Which mehndi designs are popular for Eid?

Arabic-style trails, round tikki designs and simple florals are popular because they look festive and are quick to apply.

Sophisticated Eid Anklet Border Mehndi Design for Finger — Eid Mehndi Design

A majestic eid mehndi design designed for the fingers, featuring leaf trail and star cluster. Rated as Easy, this pattern is perfect for Teej.

Finger designs are quick to apply and dry fast, which makes them practical when time is short. Fingertips have thicker skin, so the stain there usually develops darker than on the rest of the hand. This is a beginner-friendly pattern: practise the main shapes on paper first, then copy them onto skin with a fine-tipped cone.

In South Asia, mehndi is traditionally applied on Chaand Raat, the night before Eid, when the new moon is sighted. Mehndi is worn for both Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha as part of dressing up for the celebration.

Application tips: Apply Eid mehndi the evening before so the stain has time to darken by morning. Choose a design you can finish in one sitting; a single trail or tikki takes 15 to 30 minutes per hand.