For Many Indian Brides, Flowers Go Beyond the Bouquet
In preparation for her wedding day, a South Asian bride embarks on a special journey to the flower market. Amidst the fragrant halls, she carefully selects flowers not for her bouquet, but for adorning her hair in a traditional style known as a gajra. This age-old practice holds deep cultural significance, symbolizing celebration and beauty in a unique way.
The Bridal Hair Tradition
The bride’s hair is styled into a long plait at the back of her head, where the selected blooms are intricately woven into the braid. This distinctive hairstyle, reserved exclusively for a bride on her wedding day, creates a mesmerizing look that captures the essence of tradition and elegance.
A Multigenerational Experience
In a typical Indian household, the process of getting ready for the wedding is a multigenerational affair. The bride, portrayed by model Jagruthi Radhakrishna, is accompanied by her mother, Latha, and grandmother, Bhagya Lakshmi. Together, they indulge in age-old rituals such as applying henna, draping the sari, and adorning the bride’s hair with the fragrant gajra.
Symbolic Flower Choices
Hairstylist Mitesh Rajani explains that while jasmine flowers, known as mallige, are traditionally worn by brides, a modern twist was added to Jagruthi’s look. Kankambara, an orange flower native to Karnataka, her home state, was incorporated to evoke memories of her roots and add a personal touch to her bridal ensemble.
Historical Significance
The gajra, a circular garland of jasmine flowers, has been a symbol of bridal adornment since ancient times, dating back to 1500 BCE. This floral accessory not only adds a touch of fragrance but also carries with it centuries of tradition and cultural heritage.
Latha, the mother of the bride, wears the same sari that she adorned on her wedding day, carrying forward a cherished family tradition. This connection between past and present through shared garments further enhances the emotional depth of the occasion.
As we witness Jagruthi embody the essence of a South Asian bride, clad in her mother’s sari and surrounded by loved ones, we are reminded of the enduring beauty and significance of floral adornments in Indian weddings.
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