Mujhe rang de
The relation between colours and ceremonies
Marriages all over the world are a colourful affair. Be it in the dressing, decorations or even gifts, vibrant hues are the order of most marriages all over the world. And if you thought this was just a signage of celebrations, think again. Colours in weddings mean a lot more than meets the eyes.
Like the rituals associated with weddings, colours too have their symbolic significance irrespective of their vibrancy. Even in those marriages in which colours are subdued and muted, the subtlety has a role to play. Let us try and decipher what each colour is meant to say.
From time immemorial, the attire of the bride and the groom has been in a special mould which reflects the cultural beliefs of any particular community. Apart from the make, design and nature of the bride and groom's attire, even colours are chosen keeping in mind cultural factors. These choices signify a deeper relation of colours and ceremonies.
The predominant colour in most Indian marriages is red. Red signifies happiness and prosperity. Thus it is present in abundant quantities in its various hues ranging from orange to maroon. Punjabi brides are often seen in orange and Gujarati brides in all shades of red from vermilion, crimson to maroons. In Tamil weddings the bride is adorned in red and gold during the main wedding ceremony. Even in Bengali communities the saree is usually red, and in some cases yellow. Similarly, the Gujarati bride wears a white saree with a red border for the jaimala, while she is resplendent in red for the mangal pheras . In Buddhist marriages the bride wears red or gold. Black is considered an inauspicious colour like in most other cultures across India and abroad. In Pakistani weddings it is mandatory for the bride to wear red and there is also a custom which says that no one else but the bride wears red at the wedding.
Yellow is said to signify prosperity and fruitfulness. Traditionally it has been equated with a good harvest of wheat and mustard. It is also considered sacred and hence the colour of healing and religion. Yellow is particularly included in some of the ceremonies in Oriya weddings. In Bihar and eastern Uttar Pradesh, a maternal grandmother gives a piri i.e. yellow saree to the bride for lagan while a groom dons a golden yellow dhoti or a jama-chola.
A pitambar i.e. a yellow odhni or shawl covers his shoulders. For the wedding puja , the Maharashtrian bride wears a yellow saree gifted to her by her maternal uncle. In certain castes of Telugu and Tamil cultures, brides wear eight yard sarees dyed in turmeric during the tying of the mangalsutra or tali ceremony. Interestingly the tali is sometimes a thread dipped in turmeric paste. Gold woven into the bride's dress as embellishments plays a major part in adorning the bride in most communities like the Tamilian, Gujarati, Maharashtrian, Muslim and several others.
A pitambar i.e. a yellow odhni or shawl covers his shoulders. For the wedding puja , the Maharashtrian bride wears a yellow saree gifted to her by her maternal uncle. In certain castes of Telugu and Tamil cultures, brides wear eight yard sarees dyed in turmeric during the tying of the mangalsutra or tali ceremony. Interestingly the tali is sometimes a thread dipped in turmeric paste. Gold woven into the bride's dress as embellishments plays a major part in adorning the bride in most communities like the Tamilian, Gujarati, Maharashtrian, Muslim and several others.
While bright colours are preferred in most communities across India, some communities traditionally marry their bride in white.
The Malayali community for eg as well as Assamese, Parsis, Goan, Manglorean and Christian communities have their brides resplendent in white as they believe white to be a symbol of purity. We see the true beauty in diversity of India when one juxtaposes the symbolism of widowhood attached to the colour white in Hindu culture. Since ancient times white has been equated with purity and chastity in Christianity. Parsis share this view. White for them also symbolises simplicity hence, even if embroidered or lace adorned, the bridal dress is always in white.
Colours play an equally important role globally. The Iranian community also marries their brides in white on the same lines of thought. In ancient Israel, blue was considered the colour of chastity along with white and that was the bridal dress colour. Even today the bride is married in white which signifies spiritual purity and clarity for Israelis and Jews and blue strongly symbolises mystical powers. Blue is also equated with chastity and purity hence the inclusion of 'something blue' for the bride to wear in Christian weddings. Chinese weddings are replete with red which is believed to bring joy and luck. The Japanese bride wears a white silk kimono lined with red, representative of happiness and a new beginning. In Korea, the bride wears a lime-green wonsam or hwarrot is worn over the traditional wedding dress, the hanbok . The womsam and hwarrot are embroidered with flowers and butterflies, and banded with red, symbolising heaven; indigo for earth; and yellow for humanity. The bride's hands are covered in white, the symbol of respect.
Colours take on a personal meaning in Scottish customs where the groom adorns his bride in the colours of his clan to signify her acceptance into his world. Similarly, in Africa the bride is married in the colours that were representative of the village she hails from.
Colours have been associated carefully with other objects and mediums in various ceremonies as well. Yellow marigold flowers, red rose petals and white mogra found abundantly in Indian weddings are a case in point. In Christian beliefs yellow rose petals stand for fertility hence they are showered in generous quantities over the bride and groom. In ancient Greek culture the bride was adorned with crowns of orange blossoms which were meant to represent happiness and fulfillment. In the Vietnamese culture the mother-in-law offers the bride pink chalk as a symbol of a rosy future for the couple.
The list is endless. On an occasion as sublime and spiritual as a wedding, words and voices cannot express adequately the emotions that run deep and the blessings manifold. Hence colours speak a thousand languages all used to bestow one wish on the couple - May you live HAPPILY ever after
