Henna has been used throughout Africa, India, and the Middle East for thousands of years. For centuries, mehndi, the art of henna painting on the body, has been practiced in India, Africa, and the Middle East. The henna plant is believed to bring love and good fortune, and to protect against evil. Mehndi is traditionally practiced for wedding ceremonies, during important rites of passage, and in times of joyous celebration. Henna is applied in a paste form made from the crushed leaves of the henna plant. It is applied to the skin, and when removed several hours later, leaves beautiful markings on the skin that fade naturally over 1 to 3 weeks.