THE ANATOMY OF A TRADITIONAL NORTH INDIAN WEDDING (3) - Now about Ceremonies & Events. I’ll skip some. Among the early major ceremonies are the MEHNDI & HALDI, held in that order on different days. The ‘two families’ can have them in their respective abodes & in this case, Girish & Prachi’s families decided to celebrate together at Girish’s. Watch the photos - they will give you some idea.
MEHNDI (Henna) is an inalienable element of the traditional Bridal Makeup called SOLAH SHRINGAR (16 Bridal adornments)- and it’s done a day prior to the wedding day after some Puja by the Pandit ji with lots & lots of fanfare. I might tell you that as per mythology, a Bride is held at a high pedestal & is equated with the divinity of LAKSHMI, the Goddess of prosperity & beauty. Mehndi is primarily for the bride and for all ladies and girls; the Bridegroom gets a symbolic large dot of Mehndi on the palms of his hands. There’s music, there is dance and there are often local artistes adding to the atmosphere. Menfolk are all there as interested spectators. Needless to say, every ceremony is accompanied by a huge feast. Local delicacies are always part of the Fare.
HALDI (Turmeric) ceremony is one of the important & auspicious rituals. The decor is mostly yellow and everyone usually wears yellow clothes. Haldi signifies purity, fertility & good health, it brings glow to the skin, purity to the soul, relaxation to the mind. A Turmeric paste is prepared with gram flour, sandalwood grains and yoghurt - it is rubbed all over the bride and the bridegroom. All others - men, women & children - too apply some paste on each other’s faces symbolically. The elders bless the Bride & the Bridegroom after which they go for a well deserved bath. The inevitable Feast of course follows. If you are in the desert state of Rajasthan then the popular triple dish of DAL-BAATI-CHURMA is always there. Dal is a mix of four or five different lentils, Baatis are whole wheat baked balls nicely soaked in desi ghee & Churma is finely crumbled Baatis/Rotis mixed with jaggery or sugar. At these feasts you never realise when you over-indulge.
MEHNDI (Henna) is an inalienable element of the traditional Bridal Makeup called SOLAH SHRINGAR (16 Bridal adornments)- and it’s done a day prior to the wedding day after some Puja by the Pandit ji with lots & lots of fanfare. I might tell you that as per mythology, a Bride is held at a high pedestal & is equated with the divinity of LAKSHMI, the Goddess of prosperity & beauty. Mehndi is primarily for the bride and for all ladies and girls; the Bridegroom gets a symbolic large dot of Mehndi on the palms of his hands. There’s music, there is dance and there are often local artistes adding to the atmosphere. Menfolk are all there as interested spectators. Needless to say, every ceremony is accompanied by a huge feast. Local delicacies are always part of the Fare.
HALDI (Turmeric) ceremony is one of the important & auspicious rituals. The decor is mostly yellow and everyone usually wears yellow clothes. Haldi signifies purity, fertility & good health, it brings glow to the skin, purity to the soul, relaxation to the mind. A Turmeric paste is prepared with gram flour, sandalwood grains and yoghurt - it is rubbed all over the bride and the bridegroom. All others - men, women & children - too apply some paste on each other’s faces symbolically. The elders bless the Bride & the Bridegroom after which they go for a well deserved bath. The inevitable Feast of course follows. If you are in the desert state of Rajasthan then the popular triple dish of DAL-BAATI-CHURMA is always there. Dal is a mix of four or five different lentils, Baatis are whole wheat baked balls nicely soaked in desi ghee & Churma is finely crumbled Baatis/Rotis mixed with jaggery or sugar. At these feasts you never realise when you over-indulge.
Anatomy-3 Gallery Haldi: https://photos.app.goo.gl/
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