Indian weddings are not only events of bright celebration, but they also follow strict adherence to traditions and rituals. For example, the date of the wedding is determined by the horoscopes of the bride and groom, not their preferences. There are also certain rules that dictate how the bride should look on this day, like wearing a red dress instead of a white one, donning red powder on the forehead, and sporting intricate henna designs on the feet and hands.

Bright Side has collected some of the most peculiar traditions that are featured in Indian weddings.

1. Women wear nose rings on their wedding day.

Unlike in other countries, Indian brides cannot wear white dresses at their wedding since the color is usually worn for mourning, according to Hindu culture. Instead, women wear bright saris of vibrant colors, preferring red most of the time since it has an array of positive connotations in Indian culture. There are some exceptions, especially with regards to the religion of the married couples; Christian Indian weddings may have the bride, and even the groom, in white.

10. The mother of the bride pulls the nose of the groom.

© dkroy / Shutterstock.com

In Gujarati weddings, there is a quite funny tradition: the mother of the bride pulls the nose of the groom in a friendly and playful manner. By doing this the mother-in-law reminds a new family member that he has to remain humble as he is asking for her daughter’s hand. Meanwhile, a groom has to escape the pulling.

11. A bride takes rice to throw over her head.

© Luvin Yash / Shutterstock.com

At the end of the wedding, a bride should do the last ritual, Vidaai, to say “goodbye” to her parents. During Vidaai, the bride has to throw a bunch of rice over her head and her mother that is standing behind has to catch it. It’s also a symbolic way to thank parents for everything they did for their daughter.

What do you think about wedding traditions in India? Got some cool photos or stories about Indian weddings? Share them with us in the comments below!

Please note: This article was updated in July 2022 to correct source material and factual inaccuracies.