Mehendi now in South Indian Weddings.

Chitvish · May 6, 2007

In Chennai ( and perhaps in Tamil Nadu?), it has become manadatory to have a Mehendi Ceremony , 2,3 days before the wedding. Professional mehendi walis are hired for 3 hrs. Young girls from the boy's & girl's side come dressed in modern colourful outfits like skirt-blouse, ghagra-choli etc.
Lot of CDs are played - hits from hindi & tamil movies. Everbodu dances with gay abandon. The fare is generaly chat, for such occasion.
There is a wedding in the family on 9 th & this evening wee had the mehendi ceremony. I am posting some photos in the next posts.
Love,
Chithra.

Chitvish · May 6, 2007

The professional mehendi walis applying mehendi to the guests.
Love,
Chithra.

Chitvish · May 6, 2007

The girls are dancing.
Love,
Chithra.

Chitvish · May 6, 2007

Yet another mehendi photo.
Love,
Chithra.

Chitvish · May 6, 2007

The bride & the groom are dancing.
Love,
Chithra.

Chitvish · May 6, 2007

Men love to take part in mehendi dance.
Love,
Chithra.

indhusri · May 6, 2007

Dear Chithra ,
It is news to me that south - indians also have this mehandhi ceremony before marriage ! Very sweet ! Photos- as well as ur descriptions -are nice ! Something different !
With love ,
Indhu .

Chitvish · May 7, 2007

Dear Indhu,
I can only say that our traditions are taking the route of national integration & this is a welcome trend !
In Chennai, every marriage is preceded by mehendi without fail. But it is a time of thorough enjoyment & people just "let themselves go" ! Don't worry, I carfully avoided the temptation to dance myself !:mrgreen:
Love,
Chithra.

Abha · May 7, 2007

HI Mrs. Chithra

This is really nice to know that south indians also have mehendi ceremonies these days... giving a chance for everyone to enjoy and let their hair down...

In North India, everyone just bursts into dancing at the drop of the hat... in fact its not only the mehendi... 3-4 days before wedding everyday there will be singing and dancing... with loud music and Dholkis... So much so that by the time of the wedding day everybody's voices are HOARSE and cant even talk properly... and there are elaborate b'fast, lunches and dinners for all the 3-4 days, when relatives gather at the house of wedding... These days mehendi has become more of Filmy occassion, with mehendi functions taking place in 5 stars, the bride being made to wear flower jewellery and choodiwalas are being called to give bangales to everyone matchig with their outfits... and families prepare for their performances on that day for month's in advance...

~Abha

Kamla · May 7, 2007

Dear Chithra,

That was a pleasant account and pleasanter pictures. Thanks so much for sharing the fun you had with all of us. And why did you not dance? Knowing you, you would have been the ring leader
It is nice to know that such entertaining practices are adopted, never mind from which part of India they are from. Even here, there is always a mehndi ceremony or Sangeet where they seem to dance and sing and just enjoy. Only, it has to be close enough to where one lives, otherwise, the hotel bills just mount up!

L, Kamla