Tattoos are a new fashion with Mizoram youth

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 Mizoram.

Aizawl (Mizoram), Oct 20 : 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 Mizoram.

Tattoos have now over the past decade become a style statement.

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. 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," said Mama.

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," said Thungpuii, a customer.

"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 and the others are a little less expensive," added Thungpuli.

The cost of a tattoo depends on its size. While a mole tattoo or a small spot tattoo costs just Rs. 20 bigger tattoos can cost up to Rs 7000.

Efforts are being made to import tattoo-erasing equipment from Korea.

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, the name of the child was tattooed on the body.

ANI