Tattoos getting popular

The history of tattoos dates back to almost 5000years. In Nepal, however, it has barely become a decade. Nevertheless, tattoos making has gained enormous popularity among the youth. Getting inked, these days seem to be in vogue. Although many people take tattooing as a means for creating a style statements and looking hip, there are almost those who believe that tattoos signify more than just a style. Many people associate tattoos with human feelings. These tattoos sometimes even tell a story and they might also have spiritual values. While there are those who get tattooed to show their love and devotion towards something or someone they deify, there are also those who believe that a tattoo makes them feel audacious and self assured. A person will almost always spend a lot of time mulling over what design to get inked, as a tattoo has deeper meanings than most people realize. Besides, deciding what tattoo to get is not as easy and hence cannot be done capriciously.

People belonging to age group 20-35 are the most interested ones in tattooing, informs Prahlad, another tattoo artist. According to him, only about 15–20% has their stories linked with it. Generally, people just drop in and choose their designs from the studio’s catalogue itself. There are even those who first get tattoos and then ask to find some meaning to it. Hygiene is another factor to be considered when it comes to getting inked. Artists use sterilized needles, machines and colors. They have always been using inks extracted from vegetables. 

Talking about the designed one can choose from; tattoos have a lot to offer. They cover deities, old Japanese bios that include fish, birds to even the Chinese, Japanese and Korean character. Getting tattoos could be good or bad. Also, it does not necessarily need to have a meaning. Even small ones that you do just for fun like a butterfly or star are fine. However, if someone gets one that is meant for criminal identification or is disrespectful of any symbol that is specifically meant for indigenous individual or a similar group then it is clearly object ional.

Arin Shrestha, 17, inked tattoos as a birthday gift to his little brother.

Suraj Rai, 19, says he has tattoos with blues guitars delineating his love for the music.

Rochak Dahal, 18, says “Whatever a tattoo may portray at present may not mean the same in the future.”