New Delhi: In order to ensure a happy and healthy marriage, Indian society has a plethora of traditions and customs. One such tradition is the Mehndi Utsav celebrated before Ganesh Chaturthi.
Lakhs of devotees flocked to the Moti Dungri Ganesh Temple in Jaipur on 13 September to get the sacred henna. According to tradition, applying this sacred henna to the hands of an unmarried woman ensures her marriage within a year.
This year, almost 3,500 kilograms of henna were brought from Sojat to Jaipur, where it was used in the “mehndi pujan” of Ganesh. After the henna is offered to the Hindu deity, it is distributed as prasad or grace among the devotees.
Families travelled from all over the country to get their hands on the sacred mehndi. With queues stretching for miles and blocking much of MD Road and GLN Road. Despite high September temperatures, devotees stood in line for hours, with many arriving as early as 7 am for the prasad.
However, by evening, the temple administration announced that the stock had run out, leaving thousands empty-handed.
Mehndi Utsav
The celebration is attended by thousands of devotees every year. This year, however, it experienced an unprecedented footfall with almost 18 lakh attendees in one day.
The tradition reportedly began two centuries ago and has only grown in popularity across the country. Social media platforms are overflowing with visuals from the event; some even show male devotees fighting among themselves for the henna.
One X user commented on the large crowds at this year’s event, saying, “Thanks to the Instagram craze, expect double the number next year.”
Another X user called it “disturbing.”
“Faith really works in mysterious ways,” posted an X user.
Others still questioned why there is a sudden increase in unmarried men and women in the country.
“When there are so many unmarried people, one has to wonder who is increasing India’s population,” read one X post.