Haldi
A pre-wedding rite in which turmeric paste is applied to the bride and groom.
Also: pithi, gaye holud
Haldi is a pre-wedding ceremony in which relatives smear a golden paste of turmeric, oil and sandalwood on the face, arms and feet of the bride and groom, usually the morning before the wedding. It is thought to bless, to cleanse and to give the skin a glow, and it is a time of laughter and teasing, with songs and a lot of mess. The family wear yellow. The name changes by region: pithi in Punjab, gaye holud in Bengal, and manjal neeratu in Tamil Nadu. Turmeric is also used at births and festivals as a sign of auspiciousness.
Region: South Asia