April 25, 2007
Aishwarya Rai – The wedding mehendi ceremony
The stage is set for the ultimate ritzy and swanky Bollywood wedding when Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai tie the knot on Friday even as the traditional “mehndi” ceremony got underway tonight.The mehendi ceremony held at the bride’s home in La Mer apartments in suburban Bandra was a totally private affair on the second day of the three-day marriage festivities.
“As per tradition, the mehndi ceremony was held at the bride’s house. It was a small, private ceremony with only close relatives and friends of the Rais invited,” sources close to the actress said.
Abhishek’s sister, Shweta Nanda and Sonali Bendre, wife of Goldie Behl, who is very close to the bridegroom, brought the mehndi to Rai’s home to the accompaniment of Bhangra dancers.
The mehndi was specially ordered from Sojat in Rajasthan. Rai wore a resplendent red and gold zardosi sari designed by Nita Lulla.
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Mehndi is one of the sixteen adornments bestowed on a bride during Solah Shringar. In this way, mehndi marks the rite of passage of marriage in a girl’s life and her initiation into womanhood. For more information on Solah Shringar and the sixteen adornments of a woman, read about our Solah Shringar party. The intricate mehndi designs, which are painted on both the hands and feet, may contain a secret language. Designs include geometric and figurative motifs such as flowers and leaf and vine patterns, and traditional hindu religious symbols. Mehndi symbolizes satisfaction and happiness in marriage. This belief is connected with its red color which is also the color of the bride’s dress. The process of applying the designs takes on a ritualistic aspect. The mehndi is applied to the bride’s hands and feet the night before the marriage ceremony by the bride’s female relatives who spend several hours applying the designs. The process may take anywhere from three to eight hours depending upon the complexity of the designs and whether or not both the hands and feet are decorated.
Japanese and Chinese henna symbols are growing in popularity in Western countries. Japanese symbols are some of the most popular designs requested for henna body painting. It is interesting to note that the history of henna body art stretches far and wide, and the techniques are continually infused into today’s fashion, art, and traditional spheres.
