The lingering earthy smells when it mixes with water, the deep rusty red colour stains it leaves on the hands, the ritualistic elements it invokes - henna or mehandi has always been an integral part of households, from Indian to African to Arabic. The history of mehandi and its origins is as rich as the colour and aroma it releases, and it’s so important that Indian weddings are incomplete without a bridal mehandi ceremony. Here’s a deep dive into the history of mehandi, the significance of mehendi ceremony and mehendi rituals in Punjabi culture and weddings.
Back to Roots: The Significance of Mehandi/Henna
Interestingly, Mehandi has been around for more than 5,000 years, with origins in North Africa and Middle East. It’s believed that the Mughals introduced Mehandi to India in 15th century AD. Did you know that in 17th century India, it was the barber’s wife who was hired to apply henna on women, and this one art form that has transcended caste, colour and economic status! A small tropical shrub, mehendi (Lawsonia inermis) has cooling properties, and is a painless alternative to permanent tattoos. Culturally speaking, henna or mehendi symbolises prosperity and good fortune, and it’s a colour of vibrance, of new beginnings, hence befitting for a bride.
Mehandi Hai Lagne Wali: What is a Mehndi Ceremony
The Mehandi ceremony takes place a day or two before the wedding. The bridal henna or the henna for Indian wedding is usually clubbed with sangeet, and happens after haldi/maiyan ceremony, and before the choora ceremony. There are interesting mehndi rituals associated with the mehendi ceremony, the most important being the bridal henna from the Suhag Pitara or Pataaree that comes from the groom’s house for the bride. You can check out handmade Suhag Pitaras at Pataare. In it the in-laws place jewellery, make-up, shagun, clothes and mehandi for the bride. This ‘bridal henna’ is put on the bride’s hands as a blessing during the mehandi ceremony.
Now, the mehandi ceremony is not as simple as in the old days of Punjabi culture, when women and girls would gather at the vyah wala ghar, sing songs and dance and apply circles of mehandi with teellis or match sticks. The mehendi rituals and tradition of this ‘auspicious ornament’ that is equivalent to solah shringaar continues, but the practise has evolved into more fashionably executed extravagant and glamorous event -
- Invites: Today, the bridal mehendi ceremony is celebrated separately as a standalone event with special invites sent out for it.
- Decor & Theme: The bridal mehendi ceremony has turned into a pretty colourful event now, with stylised decor, music, food and drinks, pop up colours, installations, photobooths, swings etc.
- Dress Code: It’s bright and vibrant, with flower jewellery designs, maatha pattis, haath phool, gota patti jewellery etc.
- Team of professional mehendi-wallahs are hired, and bridal mehendi specialists are called in to create the most intricate pattern on the bride’s hands and feet.
- Mehendi Favors: Check out Pataaree for their Mehendi favors bundle with exquisite handmade products.
- Song List: Mehendi special songs are curated for the event, that range from those across the border (Mehendi ni Mehendi), golden oldies (Mehendi hai ranchne wali) and new age ‘dhinchak’ songs.
The Mehendi Rituals:
For the mehendi ceremony, a paste is made with henna, water and essential oils. Brides today are consciously opting for organic mehandi. This bridal mehendi is then applied on the bride’s hands and feet. According to mehendi rituals and bridal mehendi ceremony, the groom’s name is also inscribed on the bride’s hand for him to locate it on the wedding night. So, the belief is that if he fails to find the name, then the bride tends to have the upper hand in her married life! Another interesting mehendi ritual is to check the colour of the bridal henna/mehendi. The darker the shade, the more loved the bride is supposed to be in her ‘sasural’. In Punjabi culture, a bride is also not expected to perform any household work until her bridal henna/mehendi has faded. In earlier days, and in some parts even now, grooms too apply mehendi on their hands as a blessing. Here’s to the beautiful and blessed mehendi ceremony.
Now that you’ve gained insight into the beautiful ceremony of mehendi and know about its rituals and customs and story, we hope you’re excited about your mehendi ceremony and Punjabi wedding. Check out Pataaree for exclusive mehendi favors and more.
