Mehndi: The Mehndi party is a pre-wedding event in which the bride has mehndi, or henna, applied on
her hands and feet. Mehndi comes from a plant that has cooling and medicinal properties.
Henna has been used for around 9000 years in many different contexts. Henna is
said to have originated from Egypt, where it was used as an ingredient for perfume, cosmetics,
and for customary rituals. In India, the use of henna oils/perfumes is first mentioned in texts from
6th century AD. People from warmer climates, such as the Indian subcontinent, Africa, and the
Middle East, used henna paste to help keep their body cool during hot weather. This cooling
property is said to help with fevers, stress, and headaches. In the context of a wedding, the
mehndi is said to calm the bride’s nerves. It is also said that the darker the stain of the mehndi,
the more love the bride will receive from her partner and in-laws. At the party, there is lots of
music, dancing, and conversation to keep the bride entertained while the mehndi is applied as it
can take several hours. Guests can also have mehndi applied to their hands, though the design
is much simpler and smaller than the bride’s.
The Wedding:
The Hindu wedding ceremony consists of multiple small rituals that hold symbolic significance to
the union of two people and their families. Each ritual is meant to provide blessings and luck to
the couple as they begin their new life together.
Baraat: The Baraat is a ceremony that delivers the groom to the wedding venue. A procession
of family members, groomsmen, and friends dance their way towards the wedding. This is a
ceremony designed to welcome the groom and his family to the wedding location while the bride
watches from afar.
Milni: After the Baraat, the bride’s closest relatives welcome the groom by sprinkling rose water on him. In descending order of age, the male family members from the bride’s side of the family welcome the male family members from the groom’s side. This begins with the grandfathers, fathers, and then uncles and brothers. Because both families may not be perfectly balanced, cousins and other relatives may fill in spaces as needed.
Ganesh Puja: Once the groom reaches the Mandap (the alter), the priest will invoke the
blessing of Lord Ganesh. This ceremony is performed to bestow good luck upon the couple and
their families, seeking to ward off any obstacles that might get in the way as the couple begins
their new life together.
Kanya Aagaman: Now that the wedding site has been blessed through the Ganesh Puja, the
bride arrives at the Mandap. The bride is escorted by members of her family, typically by
relatives on her maternal side. This signifies the acceptance of the union from the mother’s side
of the family.
Jaimala: This ceremony involves the exchange of garlands between the bride and groom. The
exchange of flower garlands represents their acceptance of the ceremony. Traditionally, the
bride presents her garland first.
Kanyadaan: Kanyadaan means “giving the bride away” in Sanskrit. The bride’s parents have
their own tasks to perform during this part of the ceremony. The father will take her hand and
place it into the right hand of the groom, signifying the father’s acceptance of the groom and his
care of the bride. The mother of the bride will then pour sacred water over the palm of the father.
This water falls through the father’s fingers and onto the joined hands of the bride and groom.
Vivaah Homa: This ritual is considered a purification moment for all the following ceremonies.
The pundit (priest) will light a sacred fire in a kund (copper bowl) and use it throughout the
remainder of the ceremony.
Saptapadi: The bride’s dupatta (veil) and the groom's sash are tied together and the couple
circles the fire seven times. Each circle around the fire represents a specific blessing requested
from the gods. It is also said that each round represents a lifetime that the couple will be
together.