Indian weddings are colourful, bright, and loaded with traditions, they're occasions of sheer joy. Each and every culture showcases its unique customs that are a delight to witness. Even just imagining a wedding without these beautiful traditions is quite a difficult thing, let alone actually not having these traditions be a part of them at all.

So, we thought of compiling a few Indian wedding traditions that should carry on for generations to come and without which, weddings will definitely not be as much fun as they are now.

#1. The Mehendi ceremony

It's all about applying intricate henna designs on the hands and feet of the bride. Not only the bride, but all her friends and the ladies in the family get it applied on their hands. It is said that darker the colour of the mehendi, the more love and affection the bride will get from her hubby dearest and mother in-law. The venue is decorated with flowers and curtains. This function is one for which the bride and her friends eagerly wait as this is practically their last night together to have fun, dance, sing, and let their hair loose with each other. Also, there is something enchantingly serene about this night that makes it a memorable one.

#2. The Chooda ceremony

Can any Punjabi bride imagine her wedding to take place without having the choodaceremony? We do not know what it is, but somehow, a marriage seems incomplete without those beautiful red and white ivory bangles. Many non-Punjabi brides love wearing choodas as well. Seriously! And for her friends' delight, it's the kalire ceremony that follows and decides who gets married next!

#3. The Sehrabandi

The sehrabandiis the ritual in which the groom's sister ties a sehra on his head after completing a specific puja. It is one of the most emotional moments between a brother, who is getting married and his sister. In North Indian weddings, it is one of the most sacred and followed pre-wedding traditions.

#4. The Joota Chupai

The jiju's relationship with his saalasand saalisis incomplete without the joota chupai tradition where the bride's siblings hide the groom's shoes while he sits for the marriage ceremony. They then return the shoes in exchange for money. It is the best way for the two to bond and become closer amidst having some fun and also some serious bargaining!

#5. The Bidaai

This is one of the saddest yet happy and emotional event of the entire wedding, when the bride has to say her final goodbyes to her family and friends to go to her new house. Though it gets everyone teary-eyed, it's one of the most cherished traditions amongst all

#6. The Kalash

When the bride enters her new house, she has to gently kick a small kalash full of rice with her right foot before she enters. This marks the beginning on her new life in her new house, and brings prosperity and good luck in the house. It is also synonymous with Goddess Lakshmi entering the house.

#7. Post-wedding games

These are major stress busters for the newly-married couple after a hectic and long day. The friends and family members of the groom arrange for post-wedding games that the newlyweds are supposed to play. Games range from opening multiple knots on the thread tied to each other's wrists prior to the wedding, or searching for a ring in a thaali full of coloured water. It is a great way to break the ice and bond with each other for the bride and her new family.

#8. Tossing of the bouquet

For a Christian bride, who does not have functions like the mehendior the sangeet for her and her friends to connect, tossing of the bridal bouquet is one such moment where she gets to do that. It is special to her friends as it is believed that whoever catches it, gets married next!

#9. Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue

Something old represents continuity; something new offers optimism for the future; something borrowed symbolises borrowed happiness; and something blue stands for purity, love, and fidelity. This custom is for the Christian bride, and it symbolises wearing something on her wedding day that has been in her family from generations as it is considered to be lucky and auspicious.

About the Author: This article has been written by Namrata Arora for BollwoodShaadis.com