These embellishments not only adorn the beauty of a woman but in many cases also safeguard her health. Bindi and sindoor are not mere symbols of marriage, they also have their scientific aspect.
1 - Anointing
The first custom in a wedding ceremony is to anoint both the bride and groom with turmeric. The bride and bridegroom are also anointed a few days before the wedding with oil and gram flour. All of these also have a health aspect, turmeric works as an antiseptic and the oil makes the skin supple. Gram flour makes the skin glow and it is also a natural method of removing unwanted hair which, today of course has been replaced by waxing.
2 - Daubing
Daubing the face and body with saffron, sandalwood paste etc, is also an essential part of beautification. Today these come in the form of face and body packs. Using these enhances the skin's radiance and cleanness hair follicles.
3 - Missi
Missi is the scented bark of a particular type of wood. It is used not only to clean teeth, but also a chemical-free teeth whitener and mouth freshener.
4 - Bath
Right upto the pituitary gland where all out feelings are centred.
5 - Hairstyle "The moon plaited the loose hair of the night.
The stars filled the parted hair with pearls."
In a culture that visualises the beauties of nature as a beautiful head of hair, what could the plaiting of a bride's hair be, but an artistic expression! Hair is undoubtedly an integral part of a woman's beauty. Apart from that, it also protects the head from natural elements such as sunlight and rain. It is especially said to provide protection to the pituitary glands which is located at the back of head. This gland functions as an antenna for the body, routing all the emotional signals to be received by the brain. The practice of plaiting hair grew from the effort to protect this gland. In earlier times even men used to sport a knot of hair to provide this gland with a protective shell.
The art of adorning the hair has been added to during every era in our history. During earlier times long hair in women was a measure of beauty. Much time and artistic effort was spent in adorning it. After it was plaited, it was decorated with different varieties of gemstones and flowers. And today, even though short hair is more suited to our fast paced life, this practice of plaiting and adorning one's hair is present in some form or the others.
6 - Bridal Wear
A bride's dress brings to mind vision of sumptuous garments adorned with zardosi and the art of needlework all of which are unique to Indian culture. Sarees and lehngas, casting their magical spells of colour and texture couldn't possibly be produced anywhere else. The innumerable ways of draping the six yard saree is a secret that Indian women treasure, no matter which part of India they come from.
The Indian bride traditionally wears garments of white zari or red fabric. Whereas white is a symbol of purity, the red confers energy. Although sarees have been the garment of choice in the past, most modern brides tend to prefer lehengas - an ancient ceremonial attire in our culture, which makes a bride appear no less attractive than a celestial nymph!
7 - Kajal (Collyrium)
Eyes are an incomparable gift of nature and it is our duty to safeguard their beauty as well as wellbeing. Kajal keeps the eyes free of disease and enhances their beauty.
Eyes darkened with kajal make the face appear uniquely Indian; in an Indian bride eyes without kajal would make the face appear rather dull and devoid of radiance.
The traditional method of making kajal was to light lamps with oil in them. The soot collected on the lamp stand was called kajal. Absolutely pure and inexpensive lampblack become a popular embellishment for the eyes. Nowadays eye make-up such as eye liners and "mascara" have taken the place of kajal.
8 - Bindi (Ornamental mark on the forehead)
Of all the sixteen arts of beauty, the use of bindiya is perhaps the eldests. Besides enhancing the beauty of a woman's face, it is also said to have a scientific purpose. A bindi is to be applied on a spot lying midway between the eyebrows, leaving space for a grain of barley. This point on the forehead is connected to our pituitary gland. Hence the function of the bindiya is same as that of a computer chip. Just as a chip runs a computer, the brain is activated by the bindiya and is kept under control.
Kumkum, which is traditionally used as the bindi, is made by mixing turmeric, lime and borax which produced a natural red color. It is said that the importance of the bindi is due to the red colour itself (If anytime you should feel depressed then press the bindiya point you will experience sufficient relief.)
These days, however, these truths have come to be secondary importance and bindis made of various designs and shades have come into vogue. These do embellish the beauty but they do not produce the same effect which is inherent in our traditional Kumkum.
9 - Mole on the chin
Creating a mole on the chin with kajal (collyrium) beside adding grace to beauty is also considered a charm to ward off evil eyes (spirits)
10 - Fragrance "The unfinished poem of fragrance
became complete upon seeing you.
The deer like mind seeks you
ever since you became like musk."
The deer too gets intoxicated on getting the scent of musk, a person is after all human...
Fragrance or perfume occupies the same importance in a brides embellishment as the wind does in nature. In ancient times the bride was bathed days before her wedding in water infused with sandalwood, rose, camphor, saffron and such fragrant medicinal herbs. Camphor, cardarmom and aawala were also used to wash the bride's hair. With the use of these, the body and hair both became fragrant with a natural perfume whose fragrance lingered for long after.
Perfume also has a psychological effect on our body. These days, however, natural has given way to artificial and the market is full of different varieties of synthetic perfumes.
11 - Flowers
Since ancient times, flowers have had a place in the bride's adornment. Easily available to all rich and poor alike, "mogra" and "chameli" (jasmine) give the hair styling a unique "look". They also provide fragrance and aroma, the defining foundation of aromatherapy, which has carved a niche for itself in today's medical world.
I has been said: "The rose in her tresses added fragrance to life"
12 - Beeda (Seasoned betel leaf)
Paan was traditionally used to enhance the beauty of lips since its use confers a natural red tinge to the lips. Also the catechu, lime, aniseed and such medicinal herbs used in it aid digestion and improve the voice.
13 - Mehendi
Amongst the sixteen arts of beautification, applying mehendi on the hands in various intricate designs is an important custom for weddings and marriages.
14 - Mahavar (Red colour from lac)
Mahavar is a red coloured liquid which is applied on the feet. It is cooling in nature. since it is absorbed by the skin of the feet it reduces the body heat. Nowadays, nail polish is being used in place of Mahavar.
15 - Sindoor
The last of the sixteen arts of embellishment is Sindoor, which is applied on the bride for the first time by the husband with his own hands after the marriage sacrament. Since a woman is said to be complete with the custom of marriage, the application of Sindoor is an essential ceremony in the wedding. By having the embellishments consummated at the hands of the bridegroom, Sindoor become a symbol of completeness.
Preparing Sindoor
Sindoor is prepared by mixing turmeric-lime and mercury. Mercury is a metal. Hence mercury besides controlling blood pressure also activates "sex". Hence Sindoor is prohibited after the demise of the husband. Sindoor should be applied right upto the pituitary gland where all our feelings are centered.
16 - Ornaments
An Indian woman's love for jewelry is known the world over. These come into play more so for a bride. When the bride is bedecked from head to toe with her wedding jewels her beauty is even more enhanced. Wedding jewels are also considered a woman's wealth, which come in use during times of need.
Indian tradition has nurtured the art of creating jewelry to embellish various parts of the body. Jewellers use various styles to make these beautiful ornaments, whose beauty cannot be described in words - for example enameling work using gold and silver is also done.
But there is another aspect to this. Since a woman is considered more delicate and sensitive and is also going to be a mother, special items included to safeguard her health. Our ancestors structured ornaments only after understanding the physiology of the body. Subsequently, these became part of a bride's tradition.
Thus, for example, traditional wedding jewelry will have the nine precious stones(navratna) set in along with the ornaments. The precious stones are said to have an effect on one's blood vessel and thus act in the nature of acupressure.
Regardless of the influences of Western culture in all other aspects of our lives, in matters of marriage most of us give preference to our traditional attire and ornaments. These traditional arts in our culture constitute an everlasting wealth.
After the bride is bedecked with all the sixteen embellishments, when the jingling of bangles and tinkle of anklets waft through the air, the atmosphere is vibrant as if with waves of music and these waves communicate a fresh new energy. In countries abroad "wind chimes" are used to purify the energy - in our culture everything is threaded into the garland of a woman's embellishment, in which she can intertwine her natural virtues with external ornamentation. In such a house the atmosphere becomes self begotten and virtuous. When the bride is bedecked with the sixteen arts of beautification, she reflects the form of Laxmi, resonating a supernatural aura and lustre.
