Christian weddings are all about the classic white bridal gown, flower decorations at the church, gorgeous bridesmaids and the cute flower girl. A happy blend of Indian and western customs, Christian matrimony is subtle and elegant. Like every other community, their ceremonies are different and yet have some similarities. A haldi ceremony in Hindu customs is called Roce in a Christian wedding. A roce has the skin of the bride and groom applied with oil and pure coconut juice. Whereas, Haldi or the Haldaat ceremony uses a mixed paste of turmeric, sandalwood powder and milk. The main aim of these ceremonies is to refresh and revive the skin of the bride and groom, and add an extra glow to the face, hands and feet. While a Haldi ceremony is a fun-filled and a mandatory celebration for the Hindus, a Roce is a no-frill ceremony for Christians.
Every Indian matrimony ritual has its significance, and so does Haldi celebration. It is in fact a must-have pre-wedding ritual that should be followed by every religion. Some of the main reasons that Christians could make haldi an essential part of their wedding are:
- It marks a new beginning: The colour yellow is associated with spring, happiness and new beginnings. It also is the second most auspicious colour after red and is therefore a part of every Indian celebration. During the wedding, the bride and groom are ready to invite peace and prosperity into their new life, and so it becomes important to use yellow colour in the prenuptial celebrations.
- Purification of the body: Turmeric is known for its medicinal properties, and it plays an important part in purifying the bride and groom’s body. During haldi ceremony, when turmeric is applied on the face, hands and feet of the bride and groom, it acts as an effective exfoliating agent and helps rid dead skin cells.
- Blemish-free skin: Turmeric’s medicinal properties are further used to make sure that neither the bride, nor the groom are affected by any cut, bruise or ailment before the wedding. Turmeric acts as an antiseptic and blesses the couple with a blemish-free skin. Isn’t that what anyone would want at their matrimony?
- Drives away pre-wedding jitters: A Haldi ceremony is celebrated in unison with elders and youngsters of the family. It is a fun event that takes away any nervousness that a bride and groom may be experiencing. An antioxidant present in the turmeric acts as a natural remedy for headaches, and works well as an anti-depressant. Thus, you can wave goodbye to all the pills to cope with the wedding stress, all you have to do is have some haldi smeared on your skin.
