Why Indian Brides Stun in Red
/Have you ever seen an Indian woman wearing a bright red gown on her wedding day and wondered why? Spoiler alert: it’s not only for fashion purposes!
Indian wedding photos from cnn.com
Like western cultures where a white dress is considered traditional, a red wedding gown holds a large amount of symbolism in Indian-Hindu culture. They are often considered to be an important factor in the union of two people and the staple of Indian marriages.
Red has always been an auspicious colour in India. It’s seen often in Hindu deity celebrations and was the colour adorned by Indian monks back in the third millennium B.C.E. Indian brides adopted this colour into their wedding ceremonies in the early 16th century, the “Mughal Era,” out of respect for such traditions. It’s been the norm ever since.
But those aren’t the only reasons brides choose to wear red on their big day.
One of the most common and well-known connotations behind the red dress is that of good luck. In India, red symbolizes prosperity, new beginnings, and passion. In this case, a bride wearing red on her wedding day is supposed to bring fortune and love to the new beginning of married life between her and her hubby.
The colour red is also known for representing the Hindu goddess Durga, who is hailed as a depiction of feminine power. In Indian and Hindu folklore, Durga brings peace and harmony to the world after slaying a powerful beast named Mahishasura. By wearing red, an Indian bride is paying homage to this legend and is believed to be channeling Durga’s energy- a way of bringing peace and stability to the couple’s relationship.
“MARS” from space.com
A much lesser-known reason behind the dashing red bridal gown is Hinduism’s ties to astrology. In India, astrology is extremely prevalent and is closely connected to the Hindu religion. More often than not, Indians and Hindus will consult astrologers before making big life decisions- including marriage!
In the case of astrological readings, the planet Mars, also known as the Red Planet, is the planet that rules over marriage. Mars is said to bring happiness and understanding to the union and is a sign of strong bonds. An Indian bride adorning a gown the colour of said planet is a symbol of believing in astrology’s ability to strengthen her marriage.
Despite the difference in symbolism between the red Indian dress and the traditional western white dress, there is one thing they have in common. They’re only for the bride to wear!
DEPICTION OF TRADITIONAL INDIAN WEDDING FROM MANHATTANBRIDE.COM
Because Indian culture calls for women to leave their house to live with the groom and his family, a bride’s sacrifice for the marriage is seen as being far larger. It’s only fair she be the one getting the most attention by wearing a dazzling red dress.
Of course, it’s not necessarily mandatory for the guests to wear anything other than red. If a guest chooses, they can also stun in red during the ceremony from their seat in the gallery.
That doesn’t necessarily mean they’ll leave without getting slapped by a newlywed, feisty Indian woman.
Happy wife, happy life, right?
Anusha Nimalaranjan is a second-year wannabe writer at Algonquin College. She is inept at small talk and is a side character in her dog’s life. Her talents include doing the bare minimum, putting too much salt in her food, and staying up at 3AM being haunted by her past life as a fanfiction author.
