Whether wearing a pastel lehenga or a sindoori Benarasi sari, a wedding hairstyle brides don with must gusto is a braid. The hairdo makes for an uncomplicated pick and is universally flattering regardless of the hair type, be it straight, curly, or frizzy. But a braid is a braid is a braid… until it’s adorned with a hair accessory and suddenly, you’re ready for your big day or any other pre-wedding festive fête. Among the many ornaments, the parandi, also known as paranda, is officially the bridal hair accessory of the moment.
What exactly is a parandi?
The classic, yet charming hair ornament finds its roots in Punjab and is often embraced for special occasions like weddings and other joyous occasions. Time-honoured and associated with royalty, a parandi is considered a symbol of love and solah shringaar in the Punjabi culture that a bride-to-be receives from her husband.
Skilled artisans from the Patwa clan have long been entrusted with the art of paranda making. Called Patolis, these crafts communities meticulously hand-knot delicate yarn or wool to bring parandis to life. A finished product typically comprises a long bunch of threads, as vibrant tassels or gota ribbons. The ornamental ends, known as the flower, are adorned with fabric flowers, beads and mirrors. Traditionally, parandis are braided into the hair or used as tassel-like decorations at the end to transform a humble plait into a poetic masterpiece.
Today, several brands like Ziddi and Nomad are contemporising conventional parandis to captivate millennial and Gen Z brides, while honouring its heritage. From elevating them with ghungroos to personalised designs, they are giving a new lease of life to parandis.
Bollywood A-listers who have made a case for this hair adornment
Parandis can be an extremely inspirational and practical way of making a statement, while holding your hair in place as you navigate your celebrations. It’s no wonder then that they have been on the vision boards of Bollywood’s swish set. For Aadar Jain and Alekha Advani’s mehndi ceremony on February 19, 2025, Alia Bhatt chose to amp up her vibrant yellow Anushka Khanna sharara set with a parandi. With her hair neatly pulled back into a sleek braid, she showcased the versatility and vintage vibe of parandi in a rich purple shade.
For her own mehndi with Jackky Bhagnani, Rakul Preet Singh doffed the hat to her Punjabi legacy with her entire look. She wore an orange and red coordinated set by Arpita Mehta that came accentuated with phulkari embroidery; a craft synonymous with Punjabi culture. Then, there fuss-free fishtail braids adorned with fresh gajra and pink parandi.
During the promotional rounds of her romantic sports drama movie, Mr. & Mrs. Mahi in May 2024, Janhvi Kapoor adopted the aesthetic of the film with an authentic Punjabi salwar kameez by RajiRamniq in vibrant yellow and rani pink. She pulled in all stops with juttis and her rani pink hair parandi.
Sonam Kapoor went the monochromatic route for her friend’s wedding festivities in January 2024 in a peach zari bundi applique lehenga set and peach applique festive dupatta by Anavila. She injected colour and contrast with a parandi by Ziddi. It showcased a bunch of organza and tissue tassels in hues of green tied together with a hint of pink into a beautiful parandi.
In July, Radhika Merchant opted for a bespoke Tarun Tahiliani lehenga, lavishly laden with colourful Rabari thread embroidery and mirror work. With soft romantic makeup, her hair was braided into a long plait featuring custom parandi.
Not just the bride, Sonakshi Sinha, too, dazzled at Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant’s wedding reception in a stunning red Anamika Khanna anarkali. She balanced elegance and tradition with a pink potli bag, metallic juttis, chandelier earrings and a parandi in gota patta.
Khushi Kapoor turned to Tarun Tahiliani’s Kashida inspired sari for friend Aaliyah Kashyap’s mehndi ceremony in December 2024. Giving a Gen Z twist to the accessories, her hairstylist created a disheveled braid and adorned it with nothing but a demure antique gold parandi.
For her wedding celebration, Sobhita Dhulipala sported a hand crafted bagru multi-panel ‘chotu lehenga’ inspired from the archives of Sabyasachi. The skirt is adorned with antiqued zardozi and hand painted mirror borders, paired with a hand woven cotton dupatta and the house classic “Kanthi” blouse. The ensemble is accentuated with a parandi and The East of Bengal chandbalis crafted in 22-carat gold from Sabyasachi Heritage Jewellery.
