Ceremonies & Traditions

What is Haldi?

Haldi is a Hindu pre-wedding ritual in which a paste of turmeric, oil and other ingredients is applied to the bride and groom for blessings and glowing skin. It is usually held the morning of, or a day before, the wedding.

Haldi explained

Haldi and mehendi are often scheduled back to back, which needs some planning: turmeric paste should ideally be applied before mehendi, or kept away from fresh designs.

In Gujarati weddings the ritual is called pithi, and in Maharashtra it is often called halad.

Also searched as: haldi ceremony · haldi function · pithi ceremony

Mehendi designs related to haldi

Maharashtrian Mehendi

Maharashtrian mehendi is a balanced, traditional style used at Marathi weddings and festivals, built around lotus, paisley, kalash and coconut motifs with neat, moderately dense fills.

Groom (Dulha) Mehendi

Groom mehendi is the henna applied to the groom, ranging from a single shagun dot or palm circle to minimal line art, the bride's initials or a small motif on the palm.

Related mehendi terms

MayunMayun is a pre-wedding ceremony in Pakistani and North Indian Muslim weddings where the bride is anointed with ubtan (a turmeric paste) and traditionally begins a period of rest before the wedding; it often leads into the mehndi function.Mehendi CeremonyThe mehendi ceremony is a pre-wedding function, usually held one or two days before the wedding, at which the bride's hands and feet are decorated with henna while family and friends celebrate with music, dance and food.SangeetSangeet is a pre-wedding celebration of music and dance in North Indian, Gujarati and many other Indian weddings, where both families perform for the couple. It is often combined with, or held near, the mehendi function.Shagun MehendiShagun mehendi is the first, auspicious touch of henna given to the bride or groom - often a single dot or small circle on the palm, applied by a mother, mother-in-law or elder - before the main design begins.

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