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Others, However, state that the use of henna was taken to India by the Moguls in the 12th Century, centuries after use in the Middle East and North Africa. Still others insist that the tradition of mehandi originated in North Africa and the Middle Eastern countries during ancient times.
Henna use has also been documented in ancient Egypt, where it is known to have been used to stain the fingers and toes of the Pharaohs prior to mummification. It is also possible that the similar use of henna for skin decoration in these regions arose independently and perhaps simultaneously, and this could account for the difficulty in pinpointing an exact birthplace of mehandi art.