Mehandi (Henna – Painting of Hands & Feet)
This festive occasion is usually held in the late afternoon. This is primarily a ladies tea party; however the male relatives are allowed to be present. On this day, the future bride has her hands and feet intricately patterned with a paste, which is a recipe of henna oil, lemon juice and some water tinted with tea. The application of Mehandi or henna takes about four hours to complete. Ideally, the bride-to-be should not wash her hands until the paste has completely dried. Guests at the party also get their hands designed with Mehandi. Mehandi signifies the strength of love in a marriage. The darker the Mehandi, the stronger the love.