Hindu customs and traditions are rich, vibrant and colorful. No matter how small or big the event is, every occasion comes with its own unique set of rituals and fashion of celebration. And, this magnificence and splendor becomes more conspicuous in weddings.
When you step inside a Hindu wedding, you will be amazed at its glory and glitz. But there is a deeper sense to all this. Not only every ritual has its own importance and historical significance, but the use of various adornments on the bride symbolizes substantial values and principles.
Let’s plunge in and get an insight into the unknown facts-
Sindoor- Applying Sindoor by the groom on the bride’s head is one of the most auspicious and sacred rituals of a Hindu marriage. Sindoor also known as kumkum or vermillion, is applied in the hair partition and is believed that god Parvati protects and blesses the women and her husband.
Again from a scientific angle, it is believed that it controls BP, keeps your brain active and your mind calm as it is made up of turmeric, lime and other herbal ingredients.
Bindi-. This ‘dot’ on the forehead also known as ‘bindi’ is an auspicious mark worn by young girls and women in India. Married women usually wears red which represents honor, love and prosperity. Click here, if you want to know more about putting bindi.
From health perspective, the point where the bindi is applied (in between the eyebrows) lies the pineal gland, which helps relieve stress and headache. This area is an important nerve center and applying bindi, sandalwood or ash here helps to keep the nerves cool and conserve energy.
Ornaments- Indian women are highly acknowledged for their beauty, grace and femininity; which gets greatly enhanced by their ornaments. A bride is seen adorned with different pieces of jewelleries from head to toe. But do we know what they represent?
Toe ring, famously called as Bichuya in Hindi, Mettelu in Telugu, Jodavi in Marathi, Metti in Tamil & Kalungura in Kannada, is an important addition to a married woman’s costume.
Basically, two sets of toe rings are worn on each foot- one for her brother and one for her husband; to symbolize the dual status of a woman as a sister and wife. This means if her husband were to die then her brother would stand for her protection. Whereas scientifically, wearing toe ring on the second toe ensures a healthy uterus as that particular nerve directly passes through the heart; the constant friction stimulates reproductive organs and regulates menstrual cycle.
Next, is bangle. You must have observed, women of Maharashtra and Karnataka wear green and gold, while in north India they have red and in east they wear red, gold or white. The color ‘Red’ signifies energy and prosperity, green- good luck and fertility, white- new beginnings, orange - success, silver- strength and gold - fortune and prosperity. You can browse here for contemporary jewellery ideas and designs.
Wearing bangles holds scientific grounds as well; i.e. it helps maintain and balance blood circulation and energy level.
Mehendi- We all would concede the fact that no festival in India is complete without those mehendi patterns taking shape in our hands. In marriages, brides apply it on both their hands and feet. In fact, the female relatives and friends of the bride can also apply and be a part of this joyous celebration. The color of the mehendi signifies love and affection. The darker the color, the better will be the bonding and love.
Besides, its medicinal properties are immense. It can cure fever, headache and other viral problems. In addition, it increases nail luster as it improves blood circulation.
A wedding is indeed an event, where you amass emotions and experiences, appreciate new traditions, meet new people. The feeling of being a part of someone’s new journey can be fulfilling and enriching.
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