Uses Of Turmeric In Hinduism

Turmeric is a spice that is widely used as a spice for cooking in Indian kitchen. It is one of the most basic Indian spices without which food cannot be cooked in Indian households. But turmeric is not just a culinary ingredient. Turmeric has many spiritual uses in India. These spiritual uses of turmeric extend to Hindu religious rituals.

Turmeric or haldi as it is called in India also has medicinal powers, Haldi is also the name of a pre-wedding ceremony. In this ceremony (that usually happens just a day before the wedding), the bride and the groom are adorned with turmeric paste and then bathed in milk. Turmeric is associated with purity, fertility and auspicious beginnings in Hindu culture.

Here are some of spiritual uses of turmeric in Hinduism.

On Wedding Cards

The wedding cards of a Hindu wedding are first marked with haldi and kumkum and then distributed to the guests. This show that turmeric has many spiritual uses in a wedding ceremony.

Adorns The Gods

Turmeric paste is used to adorn the statues or murtis of God. For example, Lord Vishnu loves to be decorated with haldi. Three main ingredients are used for adorning the gods, haldi, chandan (sandalwood) and kum kum (vermilion)

The Wedding Ceremony

Just before the wedding, ubtan or turmeric paste is applied on the groom and bride. This ritual is meant to make their minds and bodies pure before the marriage ceremony. Moreover, turmeric is also a natural ingredient that lightens your skin and cures acne. So it has beauty benefits too.

Tilak

Indians have a custom of welcoming a person back home or bidding farewell to a person by doing aarti and tilak or tikka. This tilak is a dot or line drawn on the forehead. This is done for the protection of the person who is leaving So, when the women of the house does the tilak and say God be with you, they use haldi and kum kum.

Religious

Art Haldi is often used along with kum kum to draw religious figures like swastika, om etc. These religious symbols are usually drawn with either turmeric or vermilion.