Mehndi Ceremony

Weddings in India are considered to be a sacred and sanctified ritual. They are long ritualistic and elaborate affair with lots of pre-wedding, wedding, post wedding ritual. The occasion of Mehendi is one of the most important pre-wedding rituals.It is fun a filled ritual, which is celebrated mainly by the bride's family. Different regions of the country celebrate the ritual in a different way according to their own marriage customs, rituals, and culture. The celebrations also depend on the wealth and status of the people. The bride's family celebrates Mehendi party for gathering bride’s friends and relatives for blessing the bride as well as for amusement. 
The ceremony is mostly held at bride's place or sometimes in a banquet hall on the eve of the marriage ceremony or few days before the marriage. On this occasion a professional henna designer or some relative applies mehendi to the bride’s hands and feet. There are few places in India where it is a ritual that the first motif of henna or mehendi is applied by the bride’s sister-in-law whereas there are some places where the first mehendi motif is said to be auspicious if applied by bride’s mother.
In India, a lot of emphasis is given on customs and rituals. Indian people are ardent lovers of beauty and elegance. This is what reflects in the Mehndi ceremony before marriage. Mehendi ceremony has been prevalent since ages and forms such an integral part of the wedding ceremony that it cannot be imagined without it. Furthermore, Mehandi is one of the sixteen adornments of the bride and her beauty is incomplete without it.

Nevertheless, during the ceremony, turmeric paste is applied on bride's face, feet and hands. After this, the Mehndi application begins. For applying Mehndi to the bride, a skilled Mehndi expert is called. He applies Mehndi on bride's hands, arms, feet and legs. Traditionally, the Mehndi applied to the bride was obtained by drying the leaves of the Henna plant. Nowadays there are various types of Mehndi designs available in the market. Some of the popular Mehndi designs include Arabic Mehndi, Rajasthani Mehndi, Crystal Mehndi, Tattoo Mehndi, etc.

This also points towards the fact that Mehndi has become more of an accessory. However, no matter whatever might be its form, it is still an essential element of the bride. According to popular belief, the darker the color of the Mehndi, the more her husband will love her. As a tradition, the bride is not allowed to work in her marital house till the time her Mehndi does not fade away. This ceremony is primarily a women function, which takes place amidst musical beats of Dholak, with women singing traditional songs for a prosperous marital life of the bride.