Indian weddings are a riot of colours. Each colour, be it red, yellow or green, has a distinct significance attached to it.
An Indian wedding without the colour red is hard to imagine. Red lehenga, red sindoor, red bangles, red bindi… the list is unending. The colour red is associated with Durga, one of the most revered Hindu goddesses, symbol of power and strength. Thus, putting the red sindoor on the forehead and parting of the hair signifies good fortune and prosperity. The red color is also associated with fertile clay, thus signifying fertility and fecundity for the new bride. How can Indian weddings be complete without its spiciness? Chillies, an integral spice for Indian ethos, are known for their feistiness. Thus, the red colour also symbolizes sensuousness and passion, marking a prosperous conjugal life for the newlyweds.
The meaning of yellow
Have you ever wondered why is yellow the customary color to be worn during the Ηaldi ceremony?
The yellow color has auspicious connotations in the Hindu belief system. Signifying prosperity and opulence, the yellow color offers to bring the same spirit into the newlyweds’ lives. Gold jewellery forms an integral part of every bride’s look. The Haldi ceremony, which is an important pre-wedding ritual, uses turmeric. Turmeric acts as a natural scrub for beautifying the bride and groom before the wedding. The energy coming from the yellowness of the turmeric infuses a glow like no other, offering sanctity to the wedding ceremony.
The meaning of green
Another significant color in Indian weddings is green. It signifies a new beginning, a new birth. Marriage is similar to a new birth in the lives of all individuals. Thus, in many Indian communities, brides wear a green saree and green bangles. The green color also denotes fertility. Therefore, brides decorate their hands with mehendi which is green in color, implying a prosperous future for the upcoming marital life. Indian weddings also involve the use of innumerable leaves, grass and plants, each lending to the underlying significance of the green color.
