Some students who walked onto Turlington Plaza on Tuesday walked out with a temporary tattoo.
As part of International Month, Chandni Patel, the president of Volunteers for International Student Affairs, painted 25 free henna tattoos on students to help them learn about South Asian culture.
Hennas are traditional tattoos that originated in India.
The free tattoos, which were painted on students’ hands, shoulders and wrists, were just one part of UF’s International Month events that celebrate different cultures and educate students about them.
“Most people knew or had heard of henna before, but a lot of people wanted to know the cultural tradition behind it,” Patel wrote in an e-mail. “It was a great way to interact with a lot of cultures, because people asked a lot of questions while they were getting their tattoos.”
Other International Month activities include Thursday’s VISA Talent Show, which features performances from organizations including the African Student Union, India Inc. and Sabor Latino.
Patel said students who attended Tuesday’s event could also donate money to Gators United for Haiti, but they were not required to donate.
“I won’t turn anyone away,” Patel said.
Patel painted designs varying from flowers to Hebrew letters.
Henna tattoos are painted on the hands and feet of women before marriage and are made of crushed up leaves, rose water and lemon juice. The ingredients contain no chemicals, and the mixture can also act as a natural hair dye, Patel said.
Patel learned how to design henna tattoos by watching professionals paint them at weddings.
Rupam Sharma, a first-year graduate student in health education and behavior, got a henna tattoo shaped like a heart on the palm of her hand when she stopped on Turlington.
Sharma, whose family is from India, said henna tattoos are a tradition for brides in her culture.
The bride gets henna tattoos on her hands and feet, and the tattoos are part of a bigger celebration involving dancing, singing, chanting and eating, Sharma said.
“It’s like a bachelorette party,” she said.
