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5 Unique Indian Wedding Customs
Indian customs are unique in every way. The essence of wedding customs is that they spell auspiciousness and goodwill throughout the ceremony. While specific communities follow certain particular customs, there are many that transcend the boundaries of religion, geography, and even culture. Don’t miss a chance to enjoy these 5 unique Indian wedding customs! Mehendi and Sangeet Mehendi is the earliest known form of body painting. The mehendi ceremony is a ritual that marks the beginning of the wedding season. The bride’s friends, cousins and elderly women apply mehendi paste on the palms, ankles and back of the bride to represent the “blessings of the Sun God.” Sikhs, Muslims and the Sindhi ...
Significance of Betel Leaves and Areca Nuts in Indian Weddings
Indian weddings are filled with numerous ceremonies and rituals that have been followed since time immemorial. Although you find many different customs pervading across the country, some ceremonies and rituals are the same everywhere. One such ritual is the use of betel leaf. The use of betel leaves and areca nuts is a prominent ritual, especially in South India. The use of these two items in weddings dates back to 400BC. Because of its medicinal value, the leaves and nuts have been mentioned in ancient Ayurvedic books. Due to these properties, elders in India and other South Asian countries chew them as a mouth freshener and as an aphrodisiac. The Tradition of Betel Leaves Apart from using...
Choosing The Perfect Bouquet for Your Bridal Attire
Just like choosing the perfect bridal dress, you need to carefully choose the bouquet for your special day too. A bride’s bouquet needs to go with her attire and also, with the fervent mood of the season. When a maze of floral designs and laced sequin arrangements are available today, many ignore this art and choose common bouquet patterns. So what you should do? Choose a bridal bouquet on account of the following factors: Fabric of the attire: Silk, satin, georgette, mixed blends Colour of the attire: White, beige, cream, sandy brown, pink, mauve Design: Full arm, V-neck, off-shoulder, Halter Style: Designer, contemporary, vintage, Victorian Here are 6 exciting wedding bouquet desi...
Wedding Ring Tales – Latest Trends & Designs
Whether you are looking for a vintage European engagement ring or a regale contemporary culture-inspired stone setting, there are plenty of options for bridal rings out there. Here are 7 top-end engagement ring designs that will dazzle on any finger, no matter which part of the world you live in. Symmetrical Floral accents With stones set in a series-like petal designs, the floral accent engagement rings are always popular. The blooming design gets their inspiration from the shapes of rose petals and lotus flaps. They are mostly round and curved to complement the metal band. They maybe either single loop or double loop with an engraved name and design. These truly feminine rings get a whims...
The 16 Adornments of an Indian Bride
An Indian bride is the personification of beauty – an ethereal representation of all that’s good and pure. Every bride wants to look perfect for their special day. So, it is natural that she starts planning and visualising every single aspect of her look in immense detail from the very first day. According to tradition, the Indian bride has to carry 16 adornments, known as the Solah Shringar. This is an ancient beauty ritual, and a part of bridal preparation. Weddings celebrate the divinity of a bride as she steps into womanhood. Therefore, the 16 adornments are symbolic representations of the divine. And also, Shringar alludes to Goddess Laxmi, the patron deity of wealth and beauty. This ...
Different Types of Mangalsutra Across India
The Mangalsutra, or the sacred thread, signifies the union of marriage. Hindu culture revers it with great importance. The Mangalsutra has widespread use across the country, in different names and forms. Many Indian states have their own version of the Mangalsutra. As a matter of fact, we believe that the tradition originated in South India and later travelled to the Northern states. ‘Mangal’ means holy and ‘Sutra’ alludes to thread. In its bare form, the Mangalsutra is essentially a yellow thread with black beads strung. The groom ties the thread around his bride’s neck at the moment when they solemnise their marriage. Let’s take a look at the different types of Mangalsutras, their name an...
Fathers and Daughters: The Eternal Bond
A father is every daughter’s first love. And for good reason! Fathers play a significant role in psychological development of their daughters from the moment they are born. A daughter develops a strong sense of self belief if she has a loving and dotting father by her side. Daughters feel the need to have the support of their fathers in their growing up years to develop their personality and feel secure. Moreover, the bond becomes more significant as the daughter approaches the day she would finally get married and go live with her husband. Marriage and Role of Fathers: There is an old saying that, “Every woman may not be a queen to her husband but always remains a princess to her father!” M...
Why Haldi Is Applied To Bride And Groom Before Wedding
Haldi or turmeric is an essential commodity of Indian cuisine. The spice also holds a special place in Indian weddings. This is celebrated in a ritual known as the Haldi or Pithi Ceremony. It takes place in both the bride's and the groom’s homes a few days before the actual wedding. The Haldi Ritual Haldi has a host of health benefits which marks it as an important ingredient in food items, as well as in beauty and skin care. While it adds taste and colour to food, the turmeric paste also enhances glow and fairness and promotes healthy skin. This glow is essentially what the Haldi ceremony is all about. The paste is a mixture of turmeric, sandalwood powder and rose water, which forms a frag...
Ever Wondered Why Indian Brides Apply Mehndi?
Have you ever been to a bride-to-be’s home on the eve of the wedding? If you have, then chances are that you would have had a fun-filled night with mehndi and laughter. Indian weddings have a horde of customs and rituals which are both fascinating and fun. And one such custom is the Mehndi Ceremony at the bride’s family. This custom has roots dating back to Vedic times and is among the oldest culturally-significant Indian customs. Simply put, on the wedding eve, the bride’s family members and close friends gather around and apply mehndi on her hands and feet. Nowadays, families hire professionals to apply mehndi on the bride and on the relatives as well. As easy as it sounds, this is a rit...
Sadhya – The Kerala Wedding Feast Extravaganza
Before you begin reading about sadhya, answer this: "Are you a foodie?" If yes, then you don’t need my help. You would have at least heard about Kerala Sadhya. If you aren’t into food, then may God help you recognize what’s in store for you on the plantain leaf! Take a good look at the variety of dishes placed in front of you. Chances are that you won’t recognize even half of them. Start tasting them anyway, because that’s what the sadhya is all about. Let’s backtrack a little. Indian weddings are always a grand affair, no matter North, South, East or West you go across the country. And when it comes to Kerala, the wedding feast garners more points than the bride and groom combined. Whi...
Plan A Budget Destination Wedding With Ease
Planning a budget destination wedding is not an easy job. If the wedding date is round the corner, and you are yet to zero onto an exotic locale for the D-day celebration, your budget and safety remain the top deals. From planning the travel itinerary to arranging food for the guests, most couples often reconsider their location and bring it close to their comfort zone. More often than not, wedding planners fail to evaluate the approximate cost of a destination wedding. Without delays and compromising on your budget, here are 10 tips to help you plan for a budget destination wedding in less than a month. Where, When and How Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, North East India, the Island groups...
5 Funny Wedding Vows To Include In Your Wedding Ceremony
Writing down funny wedding vows is not just tricky, but they also face a certain level of resistance from grumpy relatives. Always find new ways to entertain wedding guests without actually giving up on the commitment in life. Here are some inspiring and creative wedding vows which tickled our funny bone! The Celebrity Vow Weddings are set in heaven. And when you involve some good celebrity wedding vows, it makes it all the more magical! Taking a cue from one of the most loved couples in the world, here's a vow we made practical for you. “Hey Victoria... You are a spice girl of my life, and I promise to add more flavours into your life. Well, my achievements only include good looks that wi...
