South Indian wedding glossary.

Upper cloth draped over the shoulder by the groom and male family members.

The emotional farewell ritual — the bride's family formally hands her over to the groom's family.

The ritual of showing the bride the star Arundhati, a symbol of marital fidelity.

Performed after the saptapadi, usually pointing at the sky outside the mandapam.

Paternal aunt — typically helps the bride dress and applies kajal at key moments.

Pre-wedding ritual at the bride's home where her family gathers to bless her.

The Kannada equivalent of kanyadaanam — water is poured over the couple's joined hands by the bride's father.

The thunderous drum burst played at the exact moment the thaali is tied, to drown out any inauspicious sounds.

The bride's first entry into the groom's home after the wedding.

The sacred fire ritual where offerings are made into the fire while mantras are chanted.

A procession in which the groom is taken around the neighbourhood in a decorated car or palanquin the evening before the wedding.

Originally to introduce him to the community.

The signature Telugu wedding ritual — bride and groom apply a paste of cumin (jeelakarra) and jaggery (bellam) on each other's heads at the muhurtham.

Symbolises an inseparable union — the two ingredients together cannot be separated.

Heavy silk saree from Kanchipuram, the traditional South Indian bridal saree.

Identified by its contrast border, zari work and signature heaviness.

The ritual giving away of the daughter by her father to the groom.

Performed before the muhurtham. Considered the highest form of daanam (gift).

A playful ritual where the groom pretends to leave for Kashi (Varanasi) to become a celibate; the bride's father convinces him to marry his daughter instead.

Always staged with mock-seriousness — fan, umbrella, walking stick included.

Same Kashi Yatra ritual as Tamil weddings — the groom's mock departure for Varanasi.

Has its own Kannada-specific dialogue script in many families.

The formal wedding invitation written in Sanskrit/regional script listing the muhurtham and family details.

Garland exchange — the couple exchanges flower garlands three times, often lifted high by relatives in a playful tug-of-war.

Maternal uncle — plays a central ritual role, often carrying the bride to the mandapam.

Forehead ornament worn at the centre parting of the bride's hair.

The traditional unstitched wedding attire — cream cotton or silk saree with a red border for the bride, dhoti and angavastram for the groom.

White cotton saree with red border for the bride; white dhoti with red border for the groom. Worn for the actual muhurtham.

The decorated canopy or stage where the wedding ceremony takes place.

The auspicious bath the bride and groom take separately on the wedding morning.

The sacred thread or chain tied around the bride's neck symbolising marriage.

Called Thaali in Tamil/Malayalam, Mangalsutra in Telugu/Kannada/North.

The tying of the thaali (mangalsutra) around the bride's neck — the exact moment of marriage.

Done during the muhurtham, accompanied by nadaswaram and getti melam drum bursts.

The silk saree, usually Kanjivaram, presented by the groom's family to the bride at the wedding.

Silver toe rings worn by married women, placed by the groom during the wedding.

Tamil name for the same silver toe rings.

The Syrian Christian and Hindu Nair equivalent of mangalya dharanam — tying the minnu (a leaf-shaped pendant on a yellow thread) around the bride's neck.

The auspicious time, calculated by a priest, at which the marriage knot is tied.

The entire ceremony is scheduled around it — usually 30 minutes long.

Pre-wedding prayer to invoke family deities and ancestors.

A ritual to seek the blessings of ancestors before the wedding begins.

The double-reed wind instrument considered the most auspicious for South Indian weddings.

A post-wedding ritual of games and songs between bride and groom to help them break the ice.

Includes coconut rolling, finding rings in a milk pot, and breaking pappadam.

The 'good time' window — a smaller auspicious slot within the day for specific rituals.

Nose ring worn by the bride — gold with a diamond or pearl drop.

The Tamil engagement ceremony — formal exchange of plates with gifts and the announcement of the wedding date.

Held weeks or months before the wedding.

The Malayali engagement ceremony — formal fixing of the alliance with prayer and gift exchange.

The Kannadiga engagement ceremony — exchange of betel leaves, coconut and gifts.

Post-wedding game ritual where the couple plays games (ring finding, coconut tossing) to lighten the mood.

The swing ceremony — the couple sits on a decorated swing while married women circle them with offerings.

The swing represents the rhythm of life; the songs sung are called oonjal paatu.

Washing of the groom's feet by the bride's father as a mark of respect (the groom represents Lord Vishnu).

An Iyengar / Brahmin ritual where nine kinds of grains are sown in clay pots to bless fertility, then immersed in a water body after the wedding.

Half saree — long skirt with a draped half saree on top, worn by young girls at family functions.

The matching ritual for the groom — purification bath and blessings before the wedding day.

Pre-wedding ritual to bless the bride (literally 'bride-to-be') with turmeric, oil bath and gifts.

The Telugu equivalent of haldi, but more formal.

The traditional Syrian Christian wedding ritual — the groom presents the bride with a new saree (manthrakodi) which she wears for the rest of the ceremony.

The inauspicious 90-minute window each day; weddings and rituals are scheduled to avoid it.

The traditional vegetarian Kerala feast served on banana leaves — 20 to 30 dishes, eaten after the ceremony.

The in-laws — the family the couple is uniting with.

The seven steps the couple takes around the sacred fire, each a vow.

The legally binding moment of a Hindu marriage in Indian law.

The seven sacred steps around the fire — identical to the Tamil/Telugu/Pan-Indian version.

A ritual a few hours before the wedding where the groom wears a silver thread, marking his completion of bachelorhood.

The ritual of placing silver toe rings (mettelu) on the bride's feet by the groom.

Literally 'auspicious time' — used interchangeably with muhurtham.

A pre-wedding ritual where married women from the family are honoured to bless the bride.

Held a few days before the wedding, only married women whose husbands are alive participate.

Rice mixed with saffron and pearls that the couple pours on each other's heads after the muhurtham.

The most photographed Telugu wedding moment — joyful, chaotic, sometimes competitive.

The sacred pendant tied on a turmeric-dyed thread (manjal kayiru) or gold chain at the muhurtham.

Each family has its own design — leaf, lotus, deity-engraved.

The Hindu priest who performs the wedding rituals.

The wedding ceremony itself in Nair tradition — typically short, around 15–20 minutes.

Unstitched white or cream cloth worn by men around the waist, often with a gold or coloured border.