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The function of mehandi takes place usually just before the wedding day and is an occasion when the bride is adorned with henna and the name of her would- be husband is concealed within the patterns on her palm; as in Hindu religion, everyone’s fate is considered to be engraved on one’s palms along with the lines, and the act of writing the husband’s name on the bride’s palm is an effort zo spin the two lines of fate- that of the bride and the groom together forever with a hope that it remains as rich and fragrant as the henna on the bride’s palm. One more adage spun around the ceremony is that the darker is the colour of mehandi on the bride’s palm, the more her would-be husband loves her.

The ceremony is attended only by ladies and is usually a private affair which takes place in the presence of family members, friends and relatives, until one chooses to celebrate it with pomp and show. The bride’s hands, arms, legs and feet are adorned with mehandi usually by some skilled mehandi expert and this ritual is accompanied by merry making and women singing traditional songs with the beats of dholak, for a blissful marital life of the bride.

Traditionally, the henna paste to be applied on the bride’s palm was prepared by grinding dry leaves of the henna plant, however, these days; various types of mehandi are available in the market in powdered form which is mixed with water to form a paste. Different types of designs in mehandi other than the traditional intricate bridal mehandi have also become increasingly popular among the brides like Arabic Mehandi, Crystal Mehandi, Tattoo Mehandi etc. As part of a tradition, a bride is not allowed to work in her marital home till the colour of her mehandi fades away.

Since, the ritual holds such a tremendous importance in an Indian wedding, care must be taken to fix the mehandi artist for the bride. These days, with the advent of wedding planning agencies, people are posited with a lot many options, choices and suggestions, nevertheless, before choosing a mehandi artist, some things must be kept in mind like the artist’s portfolio must be examined and the colour, detailing and quality of their designs must be judged. In case of any doubt, one must go for a free mehandi sampling in order to get a firsthand experience of their work.

The ceremony of mehandi is just one of the many little traditions which complete the picture of a kaleidoscopic Indian wedding. All these ceremonies and traditions dotted with age old adages, tales and superstitions combine together to make the Indian wedding an event that truly mirrors and provides a glimpse of the vibrant, lucid, iridescent, exotic and multi-lingual culture of India.