Mehndi wedding – the meaning behind Mehndi tattoos

If you’ve heard of a Mehndi wedding you might ask, “What is Mehndi?” It’s actually a small tropical shrub which can be ground into a paste when dried to create a rusty-red pigment, but it is also known as the practice of painting elaborate henna patterns on the skin. When all this comes together, the pigment from the Mehndi is used to create temporary mehndi wedding tattoos in Hindu weddings. It is applied at the Mehndi Ceremony which takes place the night before the Vivaah (marriage) in a celebration for the bride’s side of the family. For this party, a professional Mehndi artist or family member applies the Mehndi in intricate designs on the hands and feet of the bride and other women in the family. Today, Hindus often use the terms mehendi and marriage interchangeably. 

Meaning behind Mehndi tattoos

Much that is involved in the Mehndi wedding holds special significance and meaning. In the case of these Mehndi tattoo designs, they symbolize joy, beauty, spiritual awakening, and offering, but beyond that they signify the prosperity the bride will bring to her husband. And it’s more than an artistic expression. For a Hindu Vivaah, it plays such a vital role in a number of the rites during the nuptials that if there is no Mehendi, there is no wedding!

Superstitions behind the Mehndi wedding tattoos

While the Mehndi plant creates a rusty color pigment, it is considered a good sign for the newlyweds if the wife’s tattoos are created by deeply colored designs. Among Hindu women, it is commonly believed that the darker the design on the bride’s palms, the more her mother-in-law will love her! Another bonus for a darker imprint is that the new bride isn’t expected to do any household chores until her wedding Mehndi fades.

Photo credits: needpix, pixabay

Traditional wedding dresses of Indian brides

The Indian wedding tradition I’m most familiar with is the Mehndi Ceremony that takes place before the wedding. If you’ve seen the ornate henna tattoos worn by Indian brides, this is the ceremony in which they are applied. It's a fun celebration that takes place the night before the wedding and is celebrated by the bride’s side of the family. A professional mehndi artist or relative applies henna in intricate designs on the hands and feet of the bride as well as other women in the family. These designs signify joy, beauty, spiritual awakening, and offering. 

 

 

Indian brides traditionally wear red

The following day the Vivaah (marriage) takes place with much grandeur, grace, color, and plenty of traditions. Yes, color is common for Indian brides who traditionally wear red. Red symbolizes purity and is thought to be the most positive color among Hindus. Traditionally, brides wear a red lehenga or sari, but the exact style of dress often depends on where they come from regionally.

 

Bridal sari

The sari is widely thought to be a symbol of grace in cultures of the Indian subcontinent, and in South India, it is the preferred bridal dress. A sari (also saree or shari) is traditional Indian clothing that’s unisex in nature. It a drape typically wrapped around the waist with one end draped over the shoulder and leaving the midriff bare. Today women wear it over an underskirt with a fitted upper garment generally called a blouse ravike in South India. The blouse has short sleeves and is usually cropped baring the midriff.

 

Bridal Lehenga Choli

The bridal lehenga is an ornate two-piece outfit worn by most Indian brides. The skirt-like bottom is paired with a traditional fitted cropped blouse choli that’s often embroidered or at least dressy, worn with a long scarf dupatta or long stole. The whole outfit is known as the Bridal lehenga choli.

Today modern Indian brides who want to stand out choose to forego the traditional red and wear colors like green, blue, gold, tangerine, and coral.

Photo credits: pexels, pxhere

How does today's average wedding budget compare to the past?

Today, how much you have to spend on your wedding depends on how much you have to spend. This amount is a combination of three sources of money: individual savings (bride’s and groom’s); the amount which can be set aside from current income; and contributions from parents or other loved ones. According to Cost of Wedding, “The average wedding cost in the United States is $25,764. Couples, on average, spend between $19,323 and $32,205 but, most couples spend less than $10,000.” How does this compare to wedding budgets of the past? You guessed it, its much higher, but here’s why.

Receptions were simpler and optional

Today, a wedding reception costs around $12,000 - $14,006 on average. This includes the facility, food, drinks and incidentals like tables, chairs and linens. In the past, wedding receptions were optional. If it didn’t fit the budget, it didn’t happen. In fact, the 1961 copy of Check List for a Perfect Wedding, described how the receiving line should be arranged "if there was to be no reception." When receptions were held they were typically much simpler and limited to serving cake and punch or a breakfast reception with family members serving guests.

Home weddings were common

In the past, home weddings were commonplace. This practice was depicted in the 60s TV show, “The Farmer’s Daughter.” Usually, nuptials were exchanged with a few family members and witnesses present. According to the 1879 Wedding etiquette and Usages of Polite Society, talked about home wedding practice stating the couple were to enter the room and face the wedding official. Refreshments were usually served following the ceremony.

 

Inger Stevens and William Windom from The Farmer's Daughter

Parents role in paying for the wedding

Most etiquette books of times past said the bride's parents were responsible for most of the expenses, but this wasn’t the practice across the board. Cultural communities often had other traditions. For instance, in the 1920s, Italian-American grooms were expected to pay for the reception.

One of the biggest differences in wedding budgets in the past was the focus. Today, couples spend significant money on their rings and receptions. Back in the late 1800s and early 1900s a standard wedding ring was a band of gold. Couples of the past put their money toward their honeymoons and the place they planned to live following their marriage. So financially, the focus was life following the wedding, not the wedding itself.

Photo credits: flickr, wikipedia