Toe Rings for the Indian Bride

In Indian wedding custom, women of several communities have it mandatory and as part of their wedding ceremony to wear toe rings preferably on the second toe of the feet. In Hindi, the toe ring is called Bichiya, and is usually put on the bride by her husband on the wedding day. Married women wearing toe rings only stops wearing the toe rings with their husbands’ death.

Toe rings are especially made of silver, and not of gold, as gold is considered to be the metal of the Gods and it is considered improper to wear gold below the waist. In Hindu marriage traditions, married women wear one toe ring each on the second toe of both feet and many wear only one toe ring on just one toe of a single foot. There are other customs where a married woman wears one toe ring on a foot for her husband and another toe ring on the second foot for her brother.

Scientific explanation

It is believed that wearing the toe ring on the second toe of the foot implies that certain nerves are pressed keeping the reproductive system balanced and healthy. It is also believed that the menstrual cycle for the Hindu brides wearing the toe rings will be regular and the chances of conceiving are increased.
Toe rings are designed in a manner that they can be easily worn on the toes. They are usually open hoops, though there may be some which are closed rings. Unmarried women are discouraged from wearing the toe rings.


Can you add anything more to the significance of wearing toe rings?

The Brighter Side of Online Matrimony

Nowadays internet is being used for paying bills, watching movies, and even for getting married. However, there are still several questions and hesitations among people when it comes to making an important decision of their life online. Getting your perfect life partner on an online matrimony site may sound too good to be true, and then there are some associated fears that stop people from approaching matches online.

If you look at the brighter side of having a profile on a free matrimony website, you will have a lot to gain.

No need to meet a prospective match personally

Online matrimonial sites give you the option of getting in touch with suitable matches online without having to meet them in person at the first go. Once you are comfortable and think you know them well, you can fix a meeting to get to know the person better. If you do not like a person by chatting with him/her online, the question of meeting him/her personally does not arise. This way you can have a control over the person you wish to meet, unlike traditionally arranged marriages where you have to meet the person face to face to get connected.

Great way to reach out to more number of prospective matches

If you opt for free online matrimony services, you can reach more prospective matches and tell them about your partner preferences. You can also use the online matrimonial sites to let suitable matches find your profile. This way your options to find a worthy match increases to a great extent. The best part is all of this comes for free, unlike the traditional arranged marriage scenarios.

You can search for your match without letting the world know

If you do not want all your relatives and friends to know that you are looking for a bride/groom, the best option would be to register online with the best online matrimony site. This way you can advance your search for your soul mate and the world does not have to know about it.

What are your views on online matrimonial services? Share with us.

Telugu Marriages: Mix of Tradition and Symbolism

Telugu wedding ceremonies and customs are different from the marriage rituals of the neighboring southern states of India. All the rituals followed by Telugu grooms and brides in their wedding are full of significance and symbolism to help the couple make a transition into their new life.

Telugu matrimony customs

The rituals start with the Mangala Snanam custom in the morning. This is the bathing custom; the bride/groom takes the auspicious bath on the day of the wedding. This symbolizes that they are purified and ready to perform sacred rites for the wedding.

After a general aarti by the respective houses of the bride and groom, the Ganesh puja is conducted at the mandapam just prior to the wedding by the groom. Ganesh puja is performed for success in any sacred occasion. The bride will be performing the Gauri puja; Gauri is Goddess Durga and worshipping her symbolizes feminine power, energy, fertility, etc.

In Telugu weddings, the bride is brought to the mandap by her maternal uncle. In the Telugu Kanyadaan ritual, the parents of the bride wash the feet of their son-in-law as they see him as a resemblance of God.
In the Madhuparkam ritual, the Telugu bride and groom are dressed in cotton white saree and dhoti respectively and the garments have red borders.

After the tying of mangalsutra round the neck of the bride by the groom, it’s time for the Kanyadaan Akshata ritual. In this custom, the bride and groom exchange garlands and relatives/friends of the newly-weds shower flower petals and turmeric colored rice on them.

Saptapadi is an important marriage ritual where the bride and groom take seven steps around the fire together. For this custom, the end of the bride’s saree and groom’s dhoti are tied in a knot.

Sthaalipaakam is another Telugu wedding ritual where the groom has to adorn the feet of his bride with silver toe rings. This symbolizes the warding off of the evil eye.

Share other fascinating Telugu wedding customs with us.

Balancing Marriage and Profession Well Can be the Key to a Happy Married Life

Post marriage, all working couples should keep in mind that you might be in a 9 to 5 job or maybe working for longer hours, but if you want to make your marriage work, you have to work toward it round the clock. Your life partner cannot be taken for granted, it is a challenge to make him/her feel special always and you have to strive toward achieving that. 

Today, several married professionals join the rat race for earning more and end up devoting a lot of time to their work. What they forget is that they have to keep the charm alive in their marriage and not let it wear out and wither away. If both of you are married and working, make sure that you are not neglecting each other. It sometimes gets difficult to manage work, household chores, children, and spend quality time with your life partner, but remember that he/she is your life partner and deserves love and attention.

Do not let monotony set in your married life. Create new common interests, cut down on watching television instead spend that time talking to your partner, send at the least one 'I love you' SMS’ to your partner when he/she is at their workplace, do not forget to kiss each other goodnight, and never hesitate from discussing work and professional issues with your spouse. You may just find a friend in your partner who can help you in resolving certain issues related to your work. 

It does not matter whether you have selected a working life partner, or have come across your working partner on some online matrimony site, or a working partner was selected for you by your parents; what matters is, you should have the determination to handle work and marriage, so that marriage does not suffer for your work. Make your spouse feel that he/she is in your mind and not forgotten. After all, family is important and it should be your first priority. Always remember, you are married to your partner and not to your job. 

Do you think you will be able to balance your work life with your married life? If yes, let us know how you plan to do it.

Why Mehendi is Important in Indian Marriages?

Mehendi is the name given to the traditional art form of decorating hands and feet with henna paste. Mehendi is a very old and customary marriage tradition for weddings in the Indian subcontinent, and it is even quintessential in Pakistan and Nepal. The application of mehendi on the hands and legs of brides is not only limited to Hindu marriages; today mehendi has been embraced by many regardless of what caste, community or religion they belong to.

What mehendi represents?

Mehendi in Indian marriages is considered to be a good omen/shagun and it represents the love between the couple and their families.
It is believed that the darker the colour of mehendi on the bride’s palms, the deeper the bonding and level of understanding is between the bride and the groom as well as her in-laws.

Other beliefs

There are several beliefs associated with the application of mehendi in Hindu weddings. According to a popular belief, the longer a bride is able to retain the colour of mehendi on her hands and feet post-marriage, the more fortunate it is for the newly-weds.
Some people even say that mehendi represents fertility and so is considered auspicious for the bride.

Scientific truth

Henna leaves are known for their medicinal properties. These leaves when made into a paste have a cooling effect and can relieve a person from headaches, stress and fever. Since stress can be a major issue when preparing for a wedding, the application of mehendi before wedding is beneficial in relieving the bride and the groom from all the wedding stress.

Moreover, mehendi is applied to the hands and feet, as the limbs have the nerve endings in the body. Mehendi for weddings was conceptualized in a bid to keep the bride and the groom healthy before the wedding. So, it actually makes sense to have the mehendi ceremony prior to the wedding.

What do you have to say about mehendi for weddings? Share with us. 

How to Manage the Pre-Wedding Blues

Marriage is a once-in-a-lifetime event and prior to it comes a lot of stress while arranging for the big day. If you do not plan things ahead, there can be a lot of stress and confusion just before the wedding. It will be wise of you to plan things before and adhere to the schedule.

Words for ladies and gentlemen who want to be in shape for their big day

Be on a diet, avoid junk food and have nutritious food only; this should not only help you shed extra weight, but it will also help you flaunt a healthier skin for your big day. Going on a crash diet just months or weeks before your wedding will not help you, but will only make you weaker and look dull on your wedding. You surely do not want to appear all dry and dull on one of the most memorable days of your life.

You can exercise or follow a diet programme, but do not be too harsh on yourself. Hit the spa and relax. Keep in mind that your life partner loves you for who you are, so relax and be comfortable about the way you look and about your body.

Plan well

Right after the wedding date is set, make plans. Think of the smallest things that have to be bought and done. Do not postpone things that have to be done right away. Keep ticking of the things you have completed from your to-do list. It is better you are done with the preparations much earlier than to keep it for later and be stressed.

Enjoy your time

If you want to cope with the stress, you need to unwind and enjoy some good times with friends and family. Do not be thinking about marriage all the time, it will keep you worried. Relax and go for movies with your would be wife or husband, enjoy dinner outside with your family, and meet your friends.

A wedding, as well as its before and after phase should be enjoyed. Do not let the stress engulf you; if you let this happen, you will miss out on enjoying your marriage thoroughly.

Do you have any more plans to say a NO to the stress? Share with us.