The Haldi ceremony is all about warding off negativity and blessing the bride and groom with good luck, health and prosperity.
Among all the must-have pre wedding ceremonies, haldi ceremony is one of the most important one for both, the bride and the groom. And why not? Haldi holds a special place and sacred seat in the ceremonial list for all the right and blessed reasons. Turmeric (haldi) is associated with the sun, and for ages has been viewed and respected as a symbol of purity, fertility and prosperity. It’s a harbinger of good luck, a natural cleanser and has anti-bacterial, nerve relaxing and healing properties. As a tradition haldi is generously used in all rituals and even food preparations, and Indian weddings across US, Canada, UK, here hold the haldi ceremony a day before the wedding.
An auspicious pre-wedding ritual, the haldi ceremony marks new beginnings in the bride and groom’s life. Haldi is a purity, blessing, good luck and prosperity, and the Haldi ceremony is therefore celebrated as a big event. From the haldi ceremony items, haldi decoration items, outfit for haldi ceremony to the haldi ceremony procedure and the haldi ceremony decoration, the haldi ceremony is now celebrated as a full-fledged colour coordinated event with music and dance and all the pomp and show.
What is Haldi ceremony?
Now that we’re on the subject, what exactly is the haldi ceremony, and why is it important? The haldi ceremony, also called maiyan in Punjab, and pithi, ubtan, mandha, tel baan in other parts of India, USA and Canada, carries with it immense cultural importance. Happy occasions especially Punjabi weddings and Sikh wedding events demand a ‘nazarbattu’, an evil eye that wards off negative energy for which we celebrate the Punjabi marriage tradition of the Haldi ceremony. Not only is it held to accentuate that glow on the bride with the traditional turmeric ‘ubtan’, but this Punjabi wedding ritual marks new beginnings in the bride’s life. Haldi is a symbol of purity, blessing, good luck and prosperity, and the Haldi ceremony is therefore celebrated as a big event in Sikh wedding traditions.
The Haldi Ceremony procedure
The first thing Punjabi/Sikh households traditionally do is to pick a clean or new wok (kadai), tie a gaana (sacred red thread) to it, and make sweet fluffy doughnuts called google from atta and gur which the bride is given to distribute. Warhiyan (lentil dumplings) are also made in Punjabi weddings as part of the Haldi ceremony. Then, the bride is made to sit on a peedi with her feet on a wooden plank called the patri or fatti and a chadar (usually red or yellow) is held above her by four women relatives, while all married women of the household including her mother rubs a paste of haldi, flour and mustard/almond oil on her feet, hands, arm and face. Some people also add milk, rose water, or sandalwood powder to intensify the effects of the Haldi.
The Haldi ceremony and the haldi ceremony procedure is conducted the same way at the groom’s residence too. The bride and groom then take a ceremonial bath after the Haldi ceremony. Here’s a tip - wear old clothes and get your mehendi done after the haldi ceremony. And this goes for all the brides in Canada, US and India! Infuse life into this Punjabi wedding ritual with handcrafted Haldi ceremony items.
Nowadays, Haldi ceremonies are full of fanfare, and people invest in haldi ceremony decoration to the hilt. The theme is naturally yellow, the colour of sunshine, happiness and energy. In fact, the haldi ceremony significance also has its roots in the fact that haldi acts as a natural anti bacterial that relaxes the nerves and mind, and its application render this wonderful after glow to the skin. There is a radiance and luminescence in the after effects of a haldi ceremony. Amplifying the effect is the haldi ceremony event and haldi ceremony decoration that is in equal measures warm, welcoming, joyful and playful.
Although traditional rituals, Haldi ceremonies have become fashionable and trendy. Haldi ceremony items that are a right mix of culture and contemporary design. Brides and grooms pick exquisite and vibrant outfits for the haldi ceremony (some even pick readymade high end haldi face packs to avoid any allergic reactions!) and the event planners gun for premium haldi ceremony decoration.
Tip: Keep your haldi ceremony outfit ready in advance, because it’s the colour that will help decide the decor theme too.
Flowers, tasseled curtains made of colorful fabric, phulkari spreads, swings and traditional charpaais are in, giving the haldi ceremony a chic vibe. From whimsical settings, floral spreads, garden gala to rustic charm, colorful corners with artistic accents, and a dash of bohemian rhapsody, from sassy bars serving snacks and drinks mixed exclusively for the haldi ceremony, songlists compiled and ready to dance jive on to booking dates, shoots and perfect sunny location for the haldi ceremony, brides and grooms are going all out with their haldi ceremony.
Conclusion
Enriched with tradition, and practised and celebrated since ancient times, the haldi ceremony has now turned into quite a fashionable fare with a lot of music, dance and entertainment infused into it. There is a beautiful melange of the cultural importance and contemporary twist to this ceremony that rings in prosperity, happiness and wards off negative energy. So, now that you’ve got your lowdown on the importance and significance of the haldi ceremony, you can easily plan yours! 
