Mehendi is a common ritual in many diverse marriages of India. Mehendi is an important part of the ‘shringar’ and in many parts of India, it is also regarded as Shagun. So why did this ritual actually begin and is there any scientific reason to justify this unique ritual?
You may be surprised but the answer to both the above questions is yes. Here we have listed down some of the major benefits of application of mehendi/henna, which could have been the basis of this ritual in India and many other nations around the globe:
A Great Way To Get Rid of Stress
While marriage sure is a major event in most of our lives, it too involves a lot of stress and tension. Excessive stress and anxiety needs to be tackled as the new beginning has to be good.
Mehendi has a cooling effect. So application of mehendi on the palms of your hand and feet help to cool the nerve endings, eventually reducing stress.
Keeps Infections at Bay
In a marriage, the newly weds have to meet all their relatives and friends. This increases the chances of spread of infection. Henna keeps infections at bay and helps the newlyweds stay healthy during their initial days of marriage.
The Non Scientific Reasons to Apply Mehendi for Marriage
Apart from these simple reasons that may have given birth to this ritual, there are countless other myths and facts that coax brides to apply henna on their palms. Here are a few most popular ones:
If the colour is darker, your new family will love you more
This is one myth that has been passed from one generation to another. While the darkness of henna on your palm completely depends on the body heat and whether you are sweaty, our ancestors have found a different justification. They say that women who have darker mehendi get more love from their husband and inlaws.
Many women use tea and lime to increase the colour of mehendi blindly believing in such myths.
A Natural Makeup
This is sure a good reason to apply mehendi during wedding. While the henna is extracted from leaves of henna plant and the paste is completely natural, their designs on the palm look very impressive.
Some of the common variants in Henna designs for weddings are as listed below:
Indian Style Designs
These are complex designs with the use of paisley, peacock and floral patterns. These designs are dense. They are commonly worn by brides in HINDU wedding ceremonies.
Arabic Style Designs
These are much simpler and look like outlines in decorative patterns on your palms. These usually do not use peacocks or any other animal or bird patterns on the palm. They are unique and ideal for those looking for simple designs. These are common among Muslim brides. In HINDU marriages, guests opt for both the versions on either palms.
Every custom has originated with some reason and those who explore this realise the significance of each ritual. So what are you waiting for. Find a good henna artist before attending the next wedding!
