INDIA: Body art or tattoo is a rage among the youth in India's eastern hill state of Mizoram

Record ID: 1372243

  • Title: INDIA: Body art or tattoo is a rage among the youth in India's eastern hill state of Mizoram
  • Date: 22nd October 2007
  • Summary: AIZAWL (OCTOBER 19, 2007) (ANI) PEOPLE AND TRAFFIC ON THE STREET LONG OF A BOARD READING 'TATTOO PARLOUR' CLOSE OF THE BOARD READING 'TATTOO PARLOUR' INTERIOR OF A TATTOO PARLOUR MAMA, A TATTOO PROFESSIONAL IN HIS PARLOUR MAMA SET TO TATTOO A CUSTOMER'S BACK MAMA DRAWING UP A TATTOO CLOSE VIEW OF A TATTOO ON A SHOULDER MORE OF TATTOOS BEING MADE MAMA MIXING COLOURS TO MAKE THE TATTOO TATTOOING WITH A NEEDLE (SOUNDBITE) (MIZO) MAMA, A TATTOO PROFESSIONAL, SAYING: "Until 1988, the tattoo business was not in vogue. Tattooing as a business gained momentum only since the '90s. Also, due to the lack of facilities, the art of tattooing didn't catch on as a profession immediately. But, when traveling army personnel returned with tattoos, people started evincing interest. I combine creativity and my drawing skills while making a tattoo." MORE OF TATTOOS BEING MADE BLOOD BEING WIPED OFF FROM THE AREA BEING TATTOOED AN ALBUM WITH VARIOUS TATTOO DESIGNS CLOSE OF THE DESIGNS IN THE ALBUM A MAN IN A POSTER POSING WITH A TATTOO ON HIS HAND (SOUNDBITE) (MIZO) THUNGPUII, A CUSTOMER, SAYING: "I am so fond of tattoos that I have got one on my shoulder also. It is not just a craze, rather the fashion statement of the current generation. I do not understand why my parents are against it and I just cannot see any connection with the satanic concept. Nevertheless, I shall go ahead and have myself tattooed with more patterns. I had myself tattooed in 2001 and since then I have had more and more patterns done up. I spent around Rs 500 for the one on my back The others are little less expensive." THUNGPUII SHOWING OFF HER TATTOOED SHOULDER A YOUNG BOY WITH TATTOOS ALL OVER HIS HAND
  • Embargoed: 8th November 2007 03:01
  • Keywords:
  • Location: India
  • Country: India
  • Topics: Arts / Culture / Entertainment,Lifestyle
  • Reuters ID: LVAB3WXO23O6FGA0R1NBFVY4M1HH
  • Aspect Ratio: 4:3
  • Story Text: Tattoos or, patterns drawn up on skin, widely prevalent among sailors, bikers and outlaws have now become a popular body decoration for the youth in India's northeastern Mizoram.
    Shedding the unsavoury image prevalent till recently, tattoos have over the past decade become a style statement among the youth.
    Mama, a tattoo professional, who has a tattoo parlour in Aizawl, said he observed that the youth were using very unhealthy ways of tattooing their bodies, as a result of which, they faced skin ailments.
    "Until 1988, the tattoo business was not in vogue. Tattooing as a business gained momentum only since the '90s. Also, due to the lack of facilities, the art of tattooing didn't catch on as a profession immediately.
    But, when travelling army personnel returned with tattoos, people started evincing interest. I combine creativity and my drawing skills while making a tattoo," he said.
    The most common designs among the customers are tribal and barbed wire designs. The youngsters lament the non-availability of tattoos that glow in the dark.
    "I am so fond of tattoos that I have got one on my shoulder also. It is not just a craze, rather a fashion statement of the current generation. I do not understand why my parents are against it and I just cannot see any connection with the satanic concept. Nevertheless, I shall go ahead and have myself tattooed with more patterns. I had myself tattooed in 2001 and since then I have had more and more patterns done up. I spent around Rs 500 for the one on my back The others are a little less expensive," said Thungpuii, a customer.
    Reportedly, efforts are being made to import tattoo erasing equipment from Korea.
    The cost of a tattoo depends on its size. While a mole tattoo or a small spot tattoo costs just Rs.20 ($0.50), bigger tattoos can cost up to Rs 7000 ($ 176) too.
    It is difficult to say from where the art originated, but tattoos have been found on Egyptian mummies dating back to 2000 B.C. Romans used tattoos to mark criminals and slaves.
    After the advent of Christianity, tattooing was forbidden in Europe, but persisted in the Middle East and other parts of the world, including India, where a child was marked with his or her name after birth.
  • Copyright Holder: ANI (India)
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