Mandala Mehndi Designs

Mandala Mehndi Designs: Background and Style

Mandala means circle in Sanskrit, and mandala mehndi is built from rings of petals and patterns around a central point. A mandala in the centre of the palm or the back of the hand is one of the most recognisable mehndi layouts. In Indian and Pakistani mehndi, this round design is commonly called a tikki or gol tikki. The design depends on symmetry: each ring repeats the same shape all the way around.

Common motifs

• concentric circles
• petal rings
• scalloped borders
• dot rings
• central flower
• radiating lines

Application tips

• Start with a small circle in the centre and add one ring at a time.
• Turn the hand, not the cone, as you work around the circle to keep the petals even.
• Finish with a ring of dots; it hides small unevenness in the outer edge.