As a South Asian American, adapting to a lifestyle that incorporates the traditions of India and those here in the United States is often difficult. As an individual with roots from a different country, I find myself having incorporated traditions in both cultures into my daily lifestyle.

Though due to the current political climate, many may find it challenging to incorporate practices from their home countries in fear of discrimination. It is something that has not stopped me from identifying as a South Asian American. I have and will always allow myself to define myself the way I wish, despite the circumstances that may arise.

But how can I, like many other South Asians, continue to build a lifestyle and their identities without sacrificing one for the other? One way that I have adapted to a lifestyle of a South Asian American is through the practice of tattoos and henna tattoos. These two cultural appropriations allow me to identify with the American norm of permanent tattoos and henna tattoos enable me to identify with the traditional practice from my home country of India.

As an individual whose parents are from India, I’ve always loved henna tattoos and have come to realize the significance they hold within the South Asian culture. A henna tattoo is a temporary piece of art that stays on for up to 3 weeks. The henna designs are often done around many significant holidays like Eid, Diwali, and weddings, and today is many apply it as a mere fashion accessory. I remember that the application of henna tattoos has been a significant part of my life growing up in the United States and have gotten it done at a very young age.

As an individual who is part of both cultures, I have found myself indulging in both forms of art. However, indulging in both types of art has taught me many things. One thing about henna tattoos especially now in 2017, makes me subjected to much discrimination to what the henna tattoo may connect me to. Many repercussions that I may face in the modern day is that many job fields may not find tattoos as acceptable. Despite these dilemmas, I intend to continue to adjourn my body in both forms of art as they allow me to identify myself with my identity of a South Asian American.

Therefore, we must accept that we are part of society, where our cultures genuinely allow us to present ourselves in the best ways that may enable us to create a unique identity. For myself, it is the role of tattoos and henna tattoos that allow me to identify the cultures that I define myself with. Fortunately for myself, my acceptance of what my reality looks like will not stop me from divulging in using the two cultural adaptions that have been around for centuries.