Mehndi Ceremony: The colorful tradition in Indian wedding

Mehndi is yet another traditional yet exciting pre wedding ceremony. In Indian weddings, a lot of emphasis is given on customs and rituals and the same is reflected in the Mehndi ceremony before marriage. Mehndi is one of the sixteen adornments of the bride and her beauty is incomplete without it. Mehndi ceremony usually takes place just before marriage. According to the ritual, the bride does not step out of the house after this ceremony.

Mehndi ceremony is essentially organized by the family of the bride and is usually a private affair which takes place in the presence of friends, relatives and family members. However, the scale of the ceremony depends upon individual choice. Some people celebrate it with great pomp and show. Mehndi ceremony is done separately for bride and groom. Either they celebrate I at their respective houses or in some party hall. Women of the house assemble and the Mehndi is either applied by one of the bride’s relative or nowadays by professional Mehndi artists. Designs are more elaborate and depending on what the bride prefers, the henna is applied on the front and back of her palm, forearm, till above the elbows, and on the feet till below the knee. Elderly ladies sing traditional Mehndi songs with dholaks and other musical instruments. Women relatives of the bride also get Mehndi applied to their hands, although the designs are not as elaborate as the bridal Mehndi.