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The Mehndi (henna) ceremony is held at the home of the bride-to-be on the eve of the wedding ceremony or a couple of days before it. The female relatives of the girl anoint her with turmeric paste to bring out the glow in her complexion. A relative or a mehndiwali (henna artist) applies mehndi on the hands and feet of the bride-to-be. The mehndiwali usually uses a mehndi cone to draw thin, artistic patterns on the hands and feet of the blushing bride-to-be. The mehndi is washed off after a few hours or kept overnight for a dark hue. The event has a festive feel to it with the women singing traditional songs. The bride-to-be wears sober clothes. According to custom, she must not step out of the house for the next few days until her marriage. Sometimes, the girl's cousins apply a dot of mehndi on the palm of the groom-to-be by his relatives or, in some cases. |
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It is mandatory for the bride-to-be to have henna on her hands and feet. The henna is sent by the future mother-in-law of the bride-to-be. A relative, friend or a professional mehandiwali (henna artist) applies henna for the bride-to-be. The ritual is marked by festivity. The girl friends and close female relatives of the bride-to-be sing and dance joyously while the mehandi is being applied to her. The henna is usually left on overnight so that it leaves behind a rich dark hue. After the application ceremony, delicious snacks and meals are served to all present. |
