Indian wedding glossary · The functions
What is Mehndi?
Also written: Mehendi, henna ceremony, मेहंदी
Mehndi is the ceremony where henna is applied to the bride's hands and feet in detailed patterns, while the women of the family sing, dance and celebrate around her.
- Who keeps it
- Families across India and South Asia, Hindu, Muslim and Sikh, under different names.
- When
- One or two days before the wedding, usually before or on the same day as the sangeet.
About Mehndi
What should you know about Mehndi?
A mehndi artist works for hours on the bride, and guests get smaller designs. Many brides hide the groom's name or initials in the pattern for him to find later. There is folk music, a dholki, often a light lunch or dinner, and a lot of green and bright colours.
Many families believe the darker the mehndi turns, the stronger the love. Grooms often have a small token design too. In many Muslim families the mehndi night is one of the main functions before the nikah.
In the order of functions
Where does Mehndi come in an Indian wedding?
One or two days before the wedding, usually before or on the same day as the sangeet.
- Before the weddingFixing the match, the engagement, the date and the card.
- The functionsPujas, haldi, mehndi, sangeet and the family days before the wedding.
- Wedding day ritualsFrom the baraat to the pheras, nikah and anand karaj.
- After the weddingVidaai, the new home, the reception and the first visits.
Planning your own days? The free wedding function order planner puts your functions in a sensible order with dates.
On the card
What do families write on the invitation for Mehndi?
Come with your brightest colours! Mehndi for Riya, Friday, 13 February, 2 pm onwards, at the Sharma residence.
Related words
Words that go with Mehndi
- Haldi
Haldi is the ceremony where relatives apply a paste of turmeric, gram flour and oil or rose water to the bride and groom, each at their own home, to bless them and make them glow.
- Sangeet
Sangeet is the music and dance night before the wedding, where both families perform songs and dances for the couple and each other.
- Ladies sangeet
Ladies sangeet is the traditional women's gathering before a wedding, with a dholak and folk wedding songs, held at home in the days before the wedding.
- Jaggo
Jaggo is a Punjabi night celebration where relatives carry a decorated brass pot of lit lamps on their heads and dance through the neighbourhood, singing to announce the wedding.
- Chooda
Chooda is the set of red and ivory-white bangles a Punjabi bride wears from her wedding day, given by her maternal uncle at the chooda ceremony on the wedding morning.
Questions
Mehndi, answered
What is Mehndi?
Mehndi is the ceremony where henna is applied to the bride's hands and feet in detailed patterns, while the women of the family sing, dance and celebrate around her.
Which families celebrate Mehndi?
Families across India and South Asia, Hindu, Muslim and Sikh, under different names.
When does Mehndi happen in the order of wedding functions?
One or two days before the wedding, usually before or on the same day as the sangeet.
What do families write on the invitation for Mehndi?
Come with your brightest colours! Mehndi for Riya, Friday, 13 February, 2 pm onwards, at the Sharma residence.
Put Mehndi on your invitation with its date, time and venue, and send it on WhatsApp. Two invitation designs are free forever.
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