Mehndi are henna skin decorations in India, usually applied on the hands and feet of girls and women during special occasions, such as festivals and weddings (fig.), in which the Hindu bride typically wears a nose chain (fig.), which is removed on the wedding night by the bridegroom to symbolize the end of the bride's virginity.

This nose chain, known in Hindi as naak shrinkhala (fig.), is worn in honour of Parvati, the goddess of love and marriage. Also customary during a Hindu wedding, is that  couples are not expected to show emotions of joy, thus symbolizing their feelings of grief for departing from their beloved parents.