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Maharaja/Maharani
A mandala is a large, circular pattern, created from colorful sand or other ground powders. Mandalas are inherently impermanent, and so they were usually created for ceremonies or other special occasions, often by the women of the house. Because Lakshmi’s henna is so impressive, she is sometimes called on to create elaborate mandalas, like the one she designs for Mrs. Sharma and her family.
Mandala Quotes in The Henna Artist
The The Henna Artist quotes below are all either spoken by Mandala or refer to Mandala. For each quote, you can also see the other terms and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
).
Chapter 4
Quotes
I licked the sweat off my upper lip. Had any of the household servants seen anything? Who knew what damage they could cause! My hands trembled as I grabbed a fistful of turquoise powder to fill the interior.
What could Radha have been thinking? We could so easily be replaced, but Sheela would always be the princess of this kingdom. I'd never had to teach Malik that; he understood the nuances of class and caste instinctively. He would never have compromised us.
Related Characters:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
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Mandala Term Timeline in The Henna Artist
The timeline below shows where the term Mandala appears in The Henna Artist. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Chapter 4
Today, the practical, low-key Mrs. Sharma (Sheela’s mother) has hired Lakshmi to make a mandala, or a courtyard mural. Mrs. Sharma is wearing a simple sari, a tribute to Gandhi-ji,...
(full context)
Radha helps distribute the grains and seeds that will make up the mandala, but she is cut short when she sees Sheela, looking dazzling in her new dress....
(full context)
Lakshmi’s back aches once she finishes the mandala, but she is proud of her work. She goes into the kitchen to see if...
(full context)
Chapter 16
...last “dot of henna on a woman’s skin.” Suddenly, Mrs. Sharma begins to criticize Lakshmi’s mandala from weeks earlier, even though at the time she said it was beautiful. Then, she...
(full context)
