A paste of turmeric, sandalwood, and rosewater is applied to the bride and groom’s body by married women (known as Suhagans —women whose husbands are alive). India is hot and humid. Turmeric is an antiseptic and a skin coolant. Beyond the spiritual purification, the Haldi physically sterilizes the body from bacteria and gives the skin a "golden glow" before the wedding. The groom is often smeared by his sisters-in-law, who sometimes demand money to release him from the paste.
Before the fire is lit, the families must bond. Indian weddings rarely last just one day; the preamble is often more extensive than the ceremony itself. www indian suhagrat com full