Wedding ceremonies begin with pre-wedding functions that start few days before the wedding. Mehendi ceremony is a pre-wedding ceremony where henna is applied on the palm and feet of the bride. It is carried out at the bride’s place either with the sangeet function or as a separate day. Different religions have different ways to celebrate it depending on their rituals and customs. It is a night of joy, enjoyment, dance and music. A marriage is incomplete without the mehendi. It holds great significance as it is one of the sixteen solah shringar of the bride.

In India, lot of importance is given to rituals and customs. According to this ritual, the bride does not step out of the house after the mehendi ritual until the wedding day. As a part of the ritual mehendi is applied on all auspicious occasions. Mehendi defines the color of love, joy, prosperity and celebration that the bride is expected to bring to her new family. In earlier times, it used to be applied by the bride’s family members and friends but nowadays professional Mehendi designers are called upon to do the job. Traditionally the mehendi applied on the bride’s hand was made from dried heena leaves.

Some celebrate this ceremony in banquet halls while some prefer celebrating it at home. At this function, Mehendi is applied to the bride’s friends and relatives as well. There are many patterns of designs available they include the Arabian style, the Rajasthani style and many more. The name of the groom is hidden in the design. It is believed that darker the color deeper will be the love of her husband. As per the tradition the bride is not allowed to work in her husband’s house unless the color of her mehendi fads off. In recent times tattoo mehendi’s are also preferred by some. The ceremony is carried out with the beats of music. Women’s play dholak  and sing some traditional songs. All these rituals are not just for fun but to bless the bride a prosperous married life ahead.