The secret history of 5 Indian bridal fashion traditions that never went out of style

Weddings in India are a dazzling epitome of style, spirituality, tradition, and history. Everything in a bride's look has symbolism behind it, whether it's her outfit or her ornaments. While many brides today follow these rituals, they don't know the true origin of these fascinating traditions. Customs are not merely decorative choices, but they emerged over time based on Vedic traditions, customs, design needs, and the influence of royalty. Here's the story behind some of the amazing bridal fashion traditions followed in Indian weddings.

Red has always been linked with the notion of marriage for countless Indian brides. However, the colour's importance is greater than just aesthetics. The significance of red in this case started long ago. According to Hindu traditions, red is related to Shakti, which refers to the divine feminine energy denoting strength, fertility, wealth, and new beginnings. Red is also associated with Goddess Durga and Goddess Lakshmi, which makes it a lucky colour for wedding occasions. Pastel shades in bridal dresses are certainly quite trendy today, but no other colour relates to Indian bridal fashion as significantly as red does.

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Henna has been used for 5,000 years in South Asia, North Africa, and the Middle East. In Ayurveda, henna is recognised for its cooling effect. In fact, mehendi is used to calm the bride's nerves and lower stress during wedding ceremonies occurring in extremely hot seasons. Floral and symbolic designs that became famous have developed into intricate body artworks representing the art of the region as well. More than a matter of beauty, it stands for happiness and fertility and also to keep negative energies away.

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Initially, kaleeras were made out of dried coconut, betel nuts, silver, or tiny metal decorative pieces, representing a bride's desire not to face food shortages in her new place. Some historians believe that the dangling decoration also served as a safeguard from negative energy during the bride's journey. To this day, the fun tradition of shaking kaleeras over single friends came up later as an amusing wedding practice.

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Choodas, which are the remarkable bridal bangles in red and ivory hues, hold great significance in the customary traditions of Punjabi weddings. According to tradition, the chooda is a gift from the bride’s maternal uncle, symbolising blessings for prosperity and a happy married life. Historically, wealthy families used to wear ivory bangles, but ethical concerns and wildlife protection acts shifted popularity towards acrylic and other types of bangles. In traditional terms, it signifies family blessings, good luck, fertility, and successful integration into married life.

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Perhaps no bridal ritual is as iconic as the application of sindoor. There is reference to the use of a red powder in ancient Indian literature and artifacts dating back thousands of years. It is considered an integral part of the Hindu marriage ceremony, in which the groom applies sindoor to the bride’s hair, part to signify marriage. It signifies commitment, longevity of the marriage, blessings, and social status.