Theater

Henna Night is a traditional ceremony with roots dating back to the time of the prophet Muhammad. It holds great significance, symbolizing the presentation of the bride-to-be by her family to the groom's family. Despite its apparent celebration of femininity, the ritual can also be interpreted as an extension of the heteronormative order. Often emphasizing patriarchal and heterosexual relationships, Henna Night contributes to the perpetuation of gender inequality. In this context, the heteronormative order constrains women's sexuality by closely tying it to marriage, while men's sexual freedom is more readily accepted and considered a marker of masculinity. For centuries, Henna Night has been a crucial & rite of passage in Anatolia, forming part of a series of wedding rituals. While there are limited written sources on this tradition, it has been transmitted through generations like many customs. The contemporary celebration of henna nights in Turkey varies widely, reflecting a contrast between those who perceive it as a highly commercialized form of entertainment with extravagant elements, while still retaining traditional aspects, and those who prefer to observe it more traditionally and simply, especially in rural areas.

However, this raises another question: why have LGBTQIA+ rituals been ignored throughout history?

According to Byung-Chul Han (2020), rituals help us move beyond ourselves and create distance from our own identities. Therefore, it is crucial to question whether we can examine the ritual. A ritualistic process involves three layers: (1) the physical layer, which pertains to the body, (2) the mental layer, and (3) the spiritual layer. While the spiritual layer aims to transcend the ego and achieve a sense of unity, changing the mental layer is more challenging. It requires us to reevaluate how we process and interpret not only the world but also ourselves. Therefore, the Henna Night Reimagined seeks to celebrate self-liberation and resist the erosion of self-expression through a reconstructed ritual emphasizing celebration, joy, inclusivity, and interconnectedness with the broader ecology. Rituals have the potential to shape a profound world relationship, and, as Han emphasizes, they "reflect on other ways of living that can liberate society from collective narcissism” (2020).