It has become increasingly difficult to find pure henna now as the markets are flooded with coloured dye concoctions that are a far cry from the pure product. Traditionally henna was grown in backyards and used for hair colouring and conditioning regularly by women at home. We met up with local women in Auroville who happily shared with us a traditional recipe of making henna paste at home, and it’s only befitting for us to share that recipe with you too as a mark of respect for the local knowledge that was once a rooted part of their tradition and cultural heritage.

Here’s the recipe:

• Take two handfuls of henna leaves and wash them off to remove any dust
• Take a small knob of tamarind and soak it in water for a few hours until its soft
• In a grinding stone add henna leaves and soaked tamarind water and a good squeeze of lemon
• Grind it with hands for 20 min until a fine paste is formed
• This henna can now be applied on skin and hair as well

This simple traditional recipe has been followed by families over generations but now very few people find the time or inclination to do so. At Solitude we believe in encouraging the locals to share such knowledge so that we may honour the wisdom and skills of our ancestors and pass those on to people we meet. We believe giving space for traditional knowledge to root and grow is the best way of honouring our cultural heritage.