Few wedding rituals are as joyful, colourful and full of laughter as the haldi ceremony. It is also where our name comes from. Here is what the ceremony means and how families across India celebrate it.
What is the haldi ceremony?
Haldi is a pre-wedding ritual, usually held on the morning of the wedding or a day before. A paste made mainly of turmeric is applied to the bride and groom by family members and loved ones, often on the face, arms and feet.
The exact recipe differs from family to family. Turmeric is commonly mixed with ingredients such as gram flour (besan), sandalwood, rose water, milk, curd or oil. In many traditions, the ceremony takes place separately at the bride’s and the groom’s homes.
Why turmeric?
- Auspiciousness: yellow is considered a sacred, auspicious colour in Hindu traditions, linked with new beginnings and prosperity.
- Blessings: each person who applies the haldi gives their blessings for the couple’s new life.
- Protection: many families believe haldi wards off the evil eye (nazar) before the wedding.
- Glow: turmeric has long been part of Indian home remedies and skincare, and is traditionally believed to give the bride and groom a natural glow.
Haldi across India
The ritual has many names and many beautiful variations:
- Punjabi weddings: often called vatna or maiyan, with lively songs and family gathered around.
- Gujarati and Rajasthani weddings: known as pithi.
- Bengali weddings: gaye holud, where turmeric touched by the groom is traditionally sent to the bride’s home.
- South Indian weddings: in many Tamil and Telugu families, a mangala snanam, or auspicious bath with turmeric and oil, is part of the preparations.
- Maharashtrian weddings: the halad ceremony, where in many families turmeric from the groom’s ceremony is sent to the bride.
The fun and the customs
Haldi is usually the most relaxed and playful part of the wedding. Families wear yellow, sing traditional songs, and the ceremony often ends with everyone playfully smearing haldi on each other. In some families, the bride and groom are not supposed to leave the house after their haldi until the wedding, as protection from the evil eye.
Why we are called Haldi Kalash
The kalash is a sacred pot used in Hindu ceremonies, filled with water and topped with mango leaves and a coconut. It stands for abundance, purity and a blessed beginning. Haldi stands for joy, blessings and two families coming together.
Together, Haldi Kalash represents what we hope every match on our site becomes: a blessed new beginning, surrounded by the love of two families.
A small tip for the big day
Turmeric can stain clothes and, for some people, irritate sensitive skin. If you are trying a new haldi mix, do a small patch test a few days before the ceremony, and wear clothes you do not mind getting a little yellow.