The Fading Art of Godna: Remembering Haryana’s Vanishing Tattoo Traditions

Historically in Haryana, tattoo art (Godna) belonged almost exclusively to women. While men rarely wore tattoos, women freely adorned their faces, arms, legs, and bodies with intricate, meaningful motifs.

A traditional sketch of Godna tattoo motifs from Haryana, depicting geometric patterns and sacred symbols like Sita ki Rasoi.

The facial adornments were precise and subtle: a single dot centered on the forehead, three dots forming a delicate triangle near the left nostril, and tiny accent dots at the corners of each eyebrow. Beyond the face, women inked their hands, arms, feet, and toes with motifs inspired by nature, faith, and daily village life—peacocks with spread wings, cuckoos, fish, scorpions, dolls, sieves, traditional ornaments, and sacred symbols.

My mother engaged in daily handcrafts, carrying forward the rich heritage of Haryana.

Childhood Memories & DIY Tattoos

Reading through these old traditions takes me right back to my childhood. Back then, girls my age loved imitating these traditional markings. My friend Sunheri and I would try making our own facial tattoos. We would collect black soot (charcoal powder) from the bottom of the kitchen griddle (tawa), place it on our skin, and repeatedly prick the spot using a simple sewing needle to push the pigment in.

The traditional "Sita ki Rasoi" Godna tattoo inked on my mother’s forearm when she was ten years old.

After rinsing off the excess soot the next day, the tiny black dots would proudly appear on our faces! Though our makeshift tattoos faded away after two or three years, the thrill of participating in that shared ritual remains etched in my memory.

Another close-up view of the fading "Sita ki Rasoi" design, a sacred symbol worn by women for household prosperity.

Sita Ki Rasoi: A Symbol of Abundance and Protection

One of the most meaningful designs from this tradition is Sita Ki Rasoi (Sita’s Kitchen).

My mother recalled how, as a ten-year-old girl, she accompanied her grandmother to the annual village fair (mela). Fairs were vibrant cultural hubs where traditional tattoo artists set up stalls, and young girls eagerly queued up to get inked. That day, my mother got Sita Ki Rasoi inked on her forearm, along with a sacred Om (ॐ) symbol on the back of her left hand.

The sacred Om (ॐ) symbol, commonly inked on the back of the hand alongside traditional motifs.

Sita Ki Rasoi holds deep cultural and spiritual significance:

• Protection: It was traditionally inked on young women before marriage to ward off the evil eye (nazar).

• Blessings of Abundance: In Hindu mythology, Goddess Sita’s kitchen was celebrated for its boundless, delicious food and warmth. Wearing this motif was believed to bless a bride with an organized, prosperous household that never ran short of food.

• Cultural Mandate: In many regions of Haryana, having this tattoo before or around marriage was considered a essential rite of passage.

A simplified structural pattern of the Sita ki Rasoi motif, traditionally symbolizing abundance and protection.

A Tradition Fading Into History

Today, traditional tattoo practices are quietly fading away. Even in rural villages, younger generations rarely opt for traditional Godna. The sacred symbols, once worn as permanent jewels of identity, protection, and heritage, are disappearing into memory.

Looking at the fading Sita Ki Rasoi design on my mother's forearm, I realize how much history, love, and cultural identity were stitched into the skin of the women who came before us. It is a tradition slowly slipping into the past, but one well worth preserving in our stories.

xoxo