Written By: Tania Tarafdar | Updated : October 10, 2016 10:42 AM IST
Mehendi is one of the most important ceremonies in an Indian wedding. With the bride along with her friends and relatives applying mehendi, to dancing to mehendi songs from blockbuster Bollywood movies the ceremony is accompanied with oodles of fun and laughter. The beautiful mehendi designs and the bright decorations are like a cherry on the topping. But what is it about the mehendi ceremony that it is given so much importance? Let us throw some light on the significance of mehendi ceremony in Indian weddings.
The common belief is that that the darker the colour of mehendi, the better will be the bond between the bride and her to-be partner. Another common belief is that the longer the mehendi stays, the more the bride is adored by her mother-in-law. The design of mehendi itself is very significant with each type of design symbolising different aspects of life. Flowers and buds, butterflies and birds, bride and groom designs, are the most common designs used in a bridal mehendi. It is believed that the design on the back of the palm acts as a shield and serves as protection and the one on the palm invoke offering, Flowers are a symbol of joy and happiness, and the bud signifies new beginnings.
But besides lending colour to your hands, mehendi can act as a very powerful medicinal herb. You will agree that weddings are stressful which can make one very anxious. As the wedding day approaches, the nervous anticipation mixed with excitement can take a toll on the bride as well as the bridegroom. Application of mehendi can cool down the body as well as keep the nerves endings cool, in turn keeping the stress at bay [1]. And so mehendi is applied on hands and feet because they house the nerve endings in the body. So, if you have ever wondered why in some traditions even the groom applies mehendi, you can now make logical sense out of it. Interestingly, the smell of mehendi also acts as a powerful aphrodisiac and boosts romance in the couple in the initial days after the wedding [2]. Here are tips for darker mehndi or henna.
In weddings, the mehendi paste is further enhanced with clove oil, lemon juice and eucalyptus oil. These ingredients not only infuse an aroma into the paste but also increase its benefits. Here are some tips to have a rocking mehendi like Geeta Basra.
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References:
[1] Abulyazida, Elsayed M.E. Mahdyb, Ragaa M. Ahmedb,Biochemical study for the effect of henna (Lawsonia inermis) on Escherichia coli, Arabian Journal of Chemistry, Volume 6, Issue 3, July 2013, Pages 265 273
[2] By Marie Anakee Miczak, Henna's Secret History: The History, Mystery & Folklore of Henna, 2009, 160-Page
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