Mehndi
Henna paste drawn on the bride's hands and feet, and the party held for it before the wedding.
Also: mehendi, henna night, mehandi
Mehndi is a paste of ground henna leaves that leaves a rust-red stain lasting two or three weeks. Before a Hindu, Muslim or Sikh wedding in India, Pakistan and Bangladesh, the bride sits for hours while an artist draws flowers, peacocks and vines up her arms and legs, often hiding the groom's name in the design. The mehndi evening is a women's party with dholak drums, songs and sweets, and today many families invite both sides. The old belief is that the darker the colour, the more the bride is loved by her mother-in-law.
Region: South Asia