Mehndi fun for Mother’s Day

IT WAS an eventful evening for members of the International Women Club in Brunei yesterday as they spent their Mother’s Day Sunday at a cultural wedding henna celebration demonstration hosted by the spouse of Pakistan High Commissioner to Brunei Darussalam, Brigadier (Rtd) Muhammad Zareef Malik.

The spirit of the Pakistani culture was dazzling during the event yesterday as diplomatic female envoys and guests enjoyed the authentic flair of Pakistani Wedding Rasm-e-Henna-Mehndi, generally known as the “Powdering Ceremony” – a rich and exotic ceremony amongst the Pakistani community.

Prior to the celebration, Nayyara Malik in her speech said that the event is held to further enhance the warm ties between Brunei and Pakistan, particularly “through the medium of social interaction and cultural exchange”.

While bearing that intent, the celebration also made ties within the Pakistani community closer, as dozens of Pakistanis proactively contributed to bringing a taste Pakistani traditional wedding in the spirit of mutual cultural engagement.

Much like the Brunei traditional culture of Berbedak, Mehndi is usually held a day or so before the wedding. Many festive rituals form the structure of the colourful family function including the famed Henna application on the bride by the ladies.

The Mehndi atmosphere was charged with floral decorations, intoxicating scents and rich ensembles worn by ladies readied to greets guests at the High Commissioner’s residence yesterday.