The
ceremony begins where the bride-to-be is dressed up in traditional
colours such as green, yellow or orange and usually goes without
make-up. She enters the room with her friends or sisters who hold a veil
over her head as they lead her onto a stage. If the groom-to-be is
having his mehndi with the bride-to-be then he
enters the ceremony the same way with his friends or relatives holding
the veil over his head.
The stage is usually decorated with curtains, flowers, fancy chairs for her to sit and a table filled with sweets, bangles, mehndi and candles. The bride sits on stage as she is given to hold a leaf, a piece of paper or a paper note to hold with mehndi
in it. Then one by one the married female relatives come to feed her
sweets or put bangles on her or both; wishing her luck, a happy life and
their blessings. If the groom-to-be is joining her then the same is
done to him. I don't think anyone actually puts oil in his hair as it's
an old tradition!
Normally
there will be song and dance and this is a chance for their relatives
and friends to tease the bride-to-be and groom-to-be and to hopefully
help them relieve any stresses they should have. The mehndi ceremony is symbolic as it is supposed to bring a good life and longevity to the bride.
Naqsh-e-Henna
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