Body painting isn’t all about doing an Avatar makeover. Adding an extra brush of paints to body is undoubtedly very prevalent in many parts of the world not just for entertainment but more importantly, for perpetuating cultural and religious tradition. Here comes a list of handy suggestion for you to gain some exotic experience of daubing yourselves and others in feverish colors.

Neon body painting

While Hollywood star Demi Lovato showed us how to glow in the dark by using neon paints in her Neon Lights music video, we can also shine bright like a diamond in whatever parties by doing the same. No matter whether you splash the paints all over the body randomly or in highly artistically intricate patterns, you yourselves can still be the spotlight dazzling the rest in a unique way.

Mehndi/ Henna

We are always mesmerized by the highly elaborated and crafty designed patterns of Henna (Mehndi in Indian term). There is no doubt that Henna transcends and became a new fave for body-art enthusiasts from across the globe. Even in the territory, we can still have myriad access to it through parties, bazaars and many other channels. While the vast majority deems it as a temporary marvelously-drawn tattoo only, we may not know how this form of body art acts as an epitome of the rich Indian culture and tradition.

The name Henna is derived from the plant Henna which has already been used since antiquity for perfume and hair and skin dye. This form of body art symbolizes blessing of love, prosperity, futility and good luck, so people will extensively apply henna amid significant occasion like wedding and Mehndi ceremony. It is a traditional belief that the darker the color Henna leaves on the bride’s body, the more she will be loved by her husband and mother-in-law. As Henna is also widely noted for its powerful medicinal benefit, its application will not only bring an extra charm to the person but also prevention from viral disease.

Here comes a romantic touch: the bride will embed their husband’s initials in the intricate patterns which he has to find on the wedding night. It is their custom that the bride is NOT permitted to do any housework as long as the bridal Henna has not faded, for an extended honeymoon is guaranteed. The custom is itself so sweet and caring that we are utterly impressed and definitely envious of.

The World Body Painting Festival in Austria

If you crave for exposures to the professional body painting, then you should definitely add on your checklist The World Body Painting Festival (WBF). It has been organized every year in Austria since 1998. This event guaranteed to satisfy the insatiable desires of the visitors visually and aurally; runway shows, international bands, bizarre clubbing experience, and after-show and color splash parties are just parts of the overwhelmingly captivating package that WBF offers. So, if you plan to visit Austria between 29 June and 6 July this year, don’t miss out on this perfect chance to witness the World Championship in 5 categories on the runway.

Holi Festival in India

While epic-scale color-splashing activities are sadly not happening in the territory, we can still share the mirth with the people of Hindu origins, for they just had a blast in the Holi Festival in India on 17 March. This festival isn’t any random weekend let-off-steam type of celebration in town, but a highly significant ancient Hindu religious festival celebrating the arrival of Spring which symbolizes start, rebirth and abundance. More importantly, it signifies the time when Good triumphs over evil. On the day of the full moon of the Phalgnua month (the 12^th month in the Hindu calendar which corresponds with February or March in the Western calendar), a series of activities kick off in which the revelers smear other faces with colors by throwing color powder or splashing pigmented water everywhere. The intensity of euphoria and togetherness manifested on streets is beyond words.

Colour Run

Here comes the good news for the ‘exerphobic’, ‘runaphobic’ in particular who see boredom as the biggest hurdle for them to take one step forward towards the finishing line. The Colour Run is hailed as the happiest 5K running campaign in the entire world celebrating health, happiness and individuality. Participating countries amounted to 30-up from the North America, South America, Europe, Asia, and Australia.

In this untimed event, runners are dressed in clean white shirts and showered with colored powder at colour station once every kilometer. Volunteers will spray dyed-cornstarch on the runners, with 5 different colors at 5 stations. Upon the completion of the run, participants will be covered with the very unique pattern of paints, epitomizing sweat and tears (of joy for sure). Life is then literally and symbolically colorful because people run for a good cause:

Here in Hong Kong, The University of Hong Kong will have its own version of the Colour-Run on 26 April, 11a.m. The route begins at the campus and then moves on to different residential halls. Although it is a HKU students-only event, it is still a good idea to witness how the participants became the happiest runners in the territory.

Photo Via Internet.

TEXT: ROSA M