Most Indian wedding traditions, especially Mehndi, have been “green” well before the world woke up to the word “eco-friendly!” Traditionally the Mehndi ceremony precedes the wedding function. The bride-to-be gets her hands and feet decorated with henna ( mehndi). Young girls and ladies too have Mehndi put on their hands as a symbol of joy, participation and happiness.

Mehndi or Henna itself is eco-friendly. It is a natural tattoo paste, made from the roots of the Henna plant. Green Mehndi is ground to a fine paste. Mehndi is symbolically an important part of the Indian wedding. As Mehndi changes its colour from green to orange-red after application, so does a bride flower into her womanhood after marriage.

We bring you some great ideas to get eco-friendly and have a truly “green” Mehndi!

The Bride…

* Dress the bride with fresh flowers in stead of jewellery. Make bracelets, earrings, necklace and maang tika out of fresh flowers.
* Decorate her chair / seat with fresh jasmine strung together.
* Make a canopy of brocade silk and fresh flowers, for the bride to sit under. jasmine strings and



The Venue…

* Sprinkle flower petals at the entrance or pathway leading to the function.
* Decorate the house with fresh flowers: float lotus in urns, string marigolds and jasmine, or bedeck the venue in green leaves, roses and tuberoses.
* Use plantain leaves and the auspicious coconut to decorate.

The Food…

* Plates made out of leaves, are ideal to serve food
* Place a plantain leaf in each plate before serving
* Use trays lined with plantain leaves to serve the sweets
* Use clay pots delicately painted in white and red, to serve the food.
* Leaf “donas” are ideal for chaat and pani poori.

The Giveaways…

* Let your giveaways be eco-friendly.
* Avoid plastic bags, use cloth bags instead. You can take your pick from tissue, cotton, brocade or silk.
* Let the giveaways be fruits, terracotta diyas, aromatic candles, glass bangles or terracotta lamps
* Use recycled paper for wrapping, if necessary

So, if you are getting married, or if you are helping a friend plan her Mehndi function, go all out and have a perfectly “green” Mehndi, and make it truly memorable for yourself and your guests! What’s even better: you can have an eco-friendly Mehndi well within a budget. Its your ideas that are priceless!