Talar Nersesian knows a thing or two about organizing charity events and putting in work as a student in the P.R program. What Nersesian isn’t too familiar with is the art of henna.
Henna is a small, flowering, culturally significant shrub that has many uses, including drying the leaves and turning them into a fine powder used for temporarily dying the skin — hence henna tattooing.
“People say you wear your heart on your sleeve. Well, you get to wear a piece of art on your sleeve,” Nersesian said.
Her lack of familiarity didn’t stop her from using the artistic design technique, with the help of friends and classmates, to help raise money for children in need at her event The Henna for Charity Stand, where she stopped to get her very first henna tattoo at the Story Arts Centre on Nov. 15.
Mubashira Farooqi (left) designed Talar Nersesian’s first henna tattoo.
“It’s a way to showcase your personality in the simplest way possible. It’s something you get to show the world,” Nersesian said. “People say you wear your heart on your sleeve. Well, you get to wear a piece of art on your sleeve.”
The money collected from the event went to Story Planet, a non-profit organization that encourages young children in Toronto to tell their stories. The charity stand was meant to help the cause and kids coming from under-resourced communities.
“Each design is different. I think that speaks to us as people. We are all unique in our own way,” Farooqi said.
The Henna for Charity stand featured multiple designs to choose from. Mubashira Farooqi, the henna artist behind it all, notes that getting your henna done should be a special experience for everyone who comes to see her.
“Each design is different. I think that speaks to us as people. We are all unique in our own way,” Farooqi said.
Farooqi also encourages people to pick their own designs. According to her, this speaks to the cause behind the charity, in which children have their own specific way of learning and expressing themselves. Story Planet actively encourages children with learning disabilities to create their own storytelling, which aids in improving literacy skills and developing their voices at a young age.
Interestingly, Farooqi learned how to design henna on her own, back when she was a little girl.
“I’ve just seen people do it when I was a kid. I watched and learned and picked up a cone,” she said, referring to the henna cone used on the hand to design.
But for the henna artist, her love for the craft lies within its rich history, dating back to when henna came from a natural plant. It was then used to help deal with nervousness and help brides relax before their wedding day with its soothing components. Farooqi believes it is a vital aspect of her culture because women use henna during big moments and important celebrations in their lives.
“In the Pakistani culture, women use henna for special days, the most special day being our wedding day,” Farooqi said. “Women adorn themselves in henna and use it as a way to beautify themselves… and cool down the body.”
Although not a common practice for men, Farooqi says the “cutest” henna design she’s ever done was at a hospital event where a young boy approached her and asked for a henna tattoo.
“I drew him a little henna watch on his wrist and he loved it,” Farooqi said, smiling.