sanjana, the marital makeup chief, explains. >> when it dries up and it starts flaking, it gives you that mahogany like a red burgundy color. so, in india the bridal colors are red. we usually wear red, maroon, burgundy-- so they say that the bride's hand shouldn't show color of her skin. >> reporter: sunitha met her husband-to-be, ronjit sandhu, who is a sikh, at college eight years ago. >> the henna artists told me yesterday the darker the henna the more your husband and your in-laws love you. so my hands are dark, but not down here so much. >> reporter: the groom's mandate on the wedding night is to find his name hidden in the design. >> the night of the wedding, i'm supposed to find... i'm supposed to search for my name in the henna. and then if i can't find it, basically i'm not allowed to consummate our marriage. >> reporter: the next pre- marriage ritual, performed is the puja, where the bride's family's hindu pandit prays before a sacred fire. >> we pray to lord ganesha asking for his blessings, s s that everything goes very smoothly without any obstacles. >> reporter: when s