Maya Tharpani
🕒 Prior to the wedding, usually on the day of or day before the Haldi/Mehendi ceremonies.
What is this about? (History)
The Maya Tharpani is an essential pre-wedding ritual invoking blessings for the bride or groom by imprinting hands with henna and pitthi (turmeric paste).
Things to Buy / Requirements
- Kalash (pot) and Coconut wrapped in Moli
- Red cloth
- Cardboard box (for hand imprints)
- Clay pot (Matki) with green gram and a 5 Rupee coin
- Steel Loti filled with water and wrapped in Moli
- Henna (Mehendi) paste in a plate
- Pitthi (wheat flour mixed with turmeric, ghee, and water) in another plate
- Plastic bags for the hands
- Kajal, Roli, Henna, and Pitthi for applying 7 dots (Tikkis)
Step-by-Step Instructions
1
Spread a red cloth facing east and place a cardboard box on it.
2
Place a clay pot containing green gram and a coin, topped with a coconut wrapped in Moli.
3
Place the water-filled steel Loti next to the clay pot.
4
Seat the bride or groom facing east for the ritual. Aunts and sisters-in-law sit nearby to assist.
5
Put a plastic bag over the bride/groom's hands. Dip the right hand in the henna plate and imprint it on the cardboard box.
6
Dip the left hand in the Pitthi plate and imprint it on the cardboard box.
7
Apply 7 dots (Tikkis) each of Kajal, Roli, Henna, and Pitthi around the imprints.