The South Asian Couples Survival Guide: Haldi Ceremony

The South Asian Couples Survival Guide: Haldi Ceremony - Eternity

The South Asian Couples Survival Guide: Haldi Ceremony

7th August 2023

If you’re a South Asian couple planning your wedding, then you will definitely be preparing for the enjoyable and amusing ceremony where you lather yourselves in turmeric.

Often referred to as a haldi ceremony, pithi, maiyan, tel baan, gaye holud, ubtan or mandha – the ceremony is an integral part of traditional Indian weddings, known to cleanse the couple before their wedding. Turmeric is known to have properties that leave the skin clear and glowing – exactly what you need before your big day.

During this vibrant pre-wedding ritual, a paste of turmeric, oil, and other auspicious ingredients is applied to the bride and groom’s bodies by family and friends. While the ceremony is heartwarming and fun, it can also be a challenge to navigate without getting stained from head to toe!

In this blog post, we’ll provide you with 15 indispensable tips to help you survive a Haldi ceremony with grace and joy.

pick the right outfit

Opt for comfortable and loose-fitting clothing that you don’t mind getting stained – you definitely don’t want anything too tight, which will only feel more uncomfortable if /when soaked. A simple cotton or linen ensemble will work wonders during this colourful celebration.

In terms of the right colours, tons of couples opt for orange / yellow / bright colours – but there’s no set rule to this. Do whatever makes you comfortable.

EMBRACE MINIMALISM WITH JEWELLERY

Keep your jewellery simple and minimal to avoid getting turmeric paste stuck in intricate designs of your precious accessories. Instead, opt for lightweight, easy-to-remove accessories that won’t be ruined by the haldi.

OPT FOR OLD & COMFORTABLE FOOTWEAR

In case you don’t believe us already, you really want to be comfortable on your wedding day, so definitely opt for comfortable shoes which you don’t mind staining. An old pair is often best for this, and preferably something which doesn’t have a suede / fabric finish.

dilute the turmeric

The first and most important step during the ceremony is definitely to ‘dilute the turmeric’. You should always mix the haldi in with a form of yoghurt or besan, to dilute the staining properties, whilst still maintaining the glow and hydration benefits.

APPLY COCONUT OIL TO THE SKIN

In addition to the above, you will want to make a healthy barrier between the haldi and your skin. As an emulsifier, the oil will make it 100x easier to eventually wash the haldi off. Some couples even swear by rubbing the haldi off with some oil as well, but water will work just as well.

APPLY PETROLEUM JELLY AROUND YOUR NAILS

Brides, got a fresh set of wedding nails? This ones for you! You may have heard the hack, when you were younger, where you surrounded the edges of your nails with petroleum jelly to make it easier to remove any excess nail polish; well, it’s kind of the same science around creating that barrier between your fresh nails and the haldi.

OPT IN FOR MAKEUP

Some couples definitely choose to opt in to wearing makeup on their haldi ceremony, whilst other’s opt out to allow their skin to breathe before the wedding. However, some brides recommend wearing makeup to ensure there is another mini-barrier between the haldi and your skin. If you do opt for makeup, be sure to go for products that have some form of hydration and glow within them.

MOISTURISE Well, grooms!

Grooms, your haldi is not the day to skip any of your skincare routine! Be sure to lather on a thick layer of moisturiser & SPF on your wedding morning. Remember, you definitely can’t cover up any stains with makeup!

put on a clear coat on your nails

Alongside the petroleum jelly, we would definitely suggest putting a clear coat on top of your nails (specifically if they’re shellac / acrylics), which you can always remove with some light nail varnish remover after the ceremony.

protect the roots!

If you know your family & friends, and you know that they definitely won’t be kind and cautious with the haldi – be sure to protect the roots with some coconut oil or petroleum jelly. Tons of couples forget, and sometimes brides end up with stained roots that show on their middle parting. Whilst theres ways of covering this up, it’s best to protect yourself beforehand.

keep your hair tied back

A haldi ceremony can get messy! The last thing you want is clumps of haldi in your hair, so be sure to keep your hair as far out of your face as possible. A neat hairstyle will also ensure that all your pictures look absolutely seamless.

consider a face mask

A popular trend that couples have opted for recently is using a turmeric face mask, which is tried, tested, and has natural exfoliant properties that your skin will definitely appreciate. Here are some of our favourites:

SHOP: Kiehl’s Turmeric & Cranberry Face Masque

SHOP: Ayumi Turmeric & Bergamot Face Mask

SHOP: Turmeric Vitamin C Clay Mask Deep Cleansing Face Mask