Haldi function jewellery: what to wear and what to skip

Haldi paste is usually a mix of turmeric with things like gram flour, curd, rose water, milk or oil, depending on the family. That mixture is applied by many hands, often enthusiastically, to your face, arms, feet and sometimes hair. Then come the playful moments when cousins smear it on everyone nearby.

Turmeric stains are hard to remove from porous or textured surfaces. Plated jewellery can get yellow paste trapped in its grooves and around stones, and the oils in the mixture can dull the finish. Kundan settings are especially vulnerable because moisture and paste can seep around the edges of the stones. Even sterling silver, which is sturdier, can pick up stains in its crevices. None of this is worth risking a piece you plan to wear again at the wedding.

Pick pieces that are cheerful, light and easy to replace or wash.

Fresh flowers wilt in heat, so if your haldi is outdoors in the afternoon, ask for the floral set to be delivered an hour or two before, kept cool, and fitted at the last minute.

• Floral jewellery: fresh marigold, mogra or rose sets, or artificial flower versions. A flower tikka, earrings and a short necklace look lovely in haldi photos.
• Gota-patti or fabric jewellery: light, bright and made for exactly this kind of function.
• Simple, inexpensive earrings such as small Meenakari jhumkas or studs you would not mourn if stained.
• A hair accessory, flower gajra or simple juda pin if your hair is tied up.
• Thread or flower bracelets if you want something on your wrists, since they can be thrown away afterwards.

Leave these in their boxes until the next function:

• Your bridal Kundan or American Diamond sets.
• Rings, bangles, kadas and haathphool, which sit right where the paste is applied.
• Watches, including any party-wear pieces.
• Anything sentimental or borrowed from family.
• Long necklaces that hang into the paste on your chest and arms.
• Heavy earrings that you will be tempted to touch with yellow fingers.

Some brides prefer to wear a pair of proper earrings for the photos before the paste goes on, then remove them. That is a sensible approach. Take your posed portraits first, with clean face and hair, then hand the earrings to someone you trust and let the haldi begin. Ask that person to keep a zip pouch ready so the earrings go straight into it.

Simple Kundan or Meenakari earrings in yellow, orange or green look especially good with haldi outfits for those early photos. If you are choosing a pair just for this, our Kundan and Meenakari earrings are a light-hearted option that will not break the budget. For floral or fabric sets, a lower budget is fine; browse pieces under ₹999 if you want something simple to pair with flowers.

Everything above applies to the bride's sisters, cousins and friends too. Anyone close enough to be applying paste, or likely to have it applied to them, should keep good jewellery off. A pair of earrings and maybe a flower tikka is plenty. The function is about colour and laughter, not sparkle.

If a piece does get paste on it, act quickly. The longer turmeric sits, the more stubborn the stain becomes.

For plated, Kundan or imitation jewellery, gently wipe off the paste with a soft, dry cloth. If needed, use a cloth that is barely damp, then dry the piece immediately and fully. Do not soak, scrub or use detergents, because water and friction can lift plating and loosen Kundan stones. Let it air dry completely before putting it away in a sealed pouch.

For plain 925 sterling silver, you can wash it in lukewarm water with a drop of mild soap, use a soft brush in the grooves, then rinse and dry thoroughly. A silver polishing cloth helps restore the shine. If your silver piece is gold-plated or has stones set in it, treat it more gently, like plated jewellery, and avoid harsh polishing.

Fresh floral jewellery can simply be discarded after the function. Fabric pieces may be spot-cleaned, but expect some yellow to stay; most people treat them as one-time wear.