In Vedic times, at the time of marriage, a girl was bedecked with sixteen symbols included (the list varies in different texts): parting of the hair; smearing the parting of hair with vermilion powder; knotting the hair into a bun; decorating the hair with strings of flowers; sandal paste and perfumes over the body; red sari; earrings for the ears; kohl around the eyes; nose-ring for the nose; necklace and garlands around the neck, especially the mangalsutra or string of marriage; bangles, bracelets and armlets for the arms, rings for the hands; anklets with tiny bells for the legs, toe-rings for the feet; alta or red dye for the palms and soles; chewing betel nut wrapped in betel leaves.

-D. Pattanaik