Haldi Kumkum, or the Haldi Kumkum ceremony, is a social gathering in India in which married women exchange haldi (turmeric) and kumkum (vermilion powder), as a symbol of their married status and wishing for their husbands' long lives.The ceremony is particularly popular in the western Indian states of Maharashtra,Gujarat, Rajasthan and Goa. In Tamil Nadu, it is celebrated as Aadiperukku aka aadi monsoon festival is a Hindu Tamil festival celebrated on the 18th day of the Tamil month of aadi. Haldi is the Hindi word for turmeric powder. Along with being considered a cooking ingredients, turmeric also has many healing properties. Kumkum is a vermilion powder made out of saffron or dry turmeric powder mixed with lemon. It has a red color and is a sign of respect in Indian cultures.