Glossary

Gae Halud Tattava
A traditional Bengali ceremony in which gifts are sent to the bride’s house on the morning of the wedding

Galsedi
A ceremony to welcome the bride in her new home

Ganesh Pooja
A ceremony in which homage is paid to Lord Ganesha

Garhi – Bukhi
A special ceremony which offers prayers to the groom’s and the bride’s mothers

Ghidhari
A prayer ceremony through which the dead ancestors of the family are invited to the wedding

Grahapravesam
The ceremony which marks the bride entering her new home

Grihasta
A term which indicates married status

Gurdwara
A Sikh place of worship

Guru Granth Sahib
The holy book of the Sikhs

Haldi Ceremony
A ceremony to beautify the bride

Haligandun
A typically Kashmiri belt worn during the wedding ceremony

Halwa
A celebratory sweet dish

Havan kund
A vessel in which fire is lit for a sacrifice

Henna
A greenish paste made of natural herbs which is applied on parts of the human body

Homam
A sacred fire for worship and sacrifice

Jaathakam
Horoscope in Malayalam

Jaggo
A Sikh wedding ceremony that takes place on the eve of the wedding

Janampatri
Horoscope, a must for most Indian weddings

Kalayana Mandapam
The marriage hall

Kaleechairs
Special rings given to the bride’s sisters by the groom

Kaleva
The brother of the bride invites the bride to her maternal home

Kaliras
Ornaments generally made of silver and gold, worn by brides from North India

Kalyanamau
A word which means marriage in Malayalam

Kangna
Bracelet

Kangna Bandhana
A ceremony in which bracelets are put on the married couple

Kangna Kholna
A ceremony in which the bracelets are taken off

Kanishran
A ceremony in which the bride is bathed in milk, while prayers are chanted

Kankana Shastra
A prayer to ask for divine blessings

Kanya Daan
A ceremony in which the bride is given off by her father or a member of her paternal clan

Karva Chauth
A festival in which wives pry for the long lives of their husbands

Kashi Yatra
A mock pilgrimage undertaken during weddings in southern India

Kohvar
The wedding bed

Kumar pet ka bhaat
A traditional ceremony in which the mother of the to be bride feeds her daughter

Kuvardhoti
A ceremonial gift given to the new bride by her in laws

Laadi
Bride

Laaja- havan
A ceremony in which the maternal uncle puts toe rings on the bride

Ladis
Rows

Lagan
The actual wedding ceremony

Lagan mahurat
The auspicious time within which the marriage should be started

Lajahom
The act of offering puffed rice into the sacrificial fire

Laung
An ornament for the nose

Lava Chidakna
The seven sacred steps which the couple take around the fire

Maala
Garlands

Maang
A parting made in the hair of women for vermillion

Maanziraat
A ritual in which the hands of the bride to be are decorated with mehendi

Magha
A certain month in the Indian calendar

Magni
Engagement

Mahurat
The specific time within which the marriage has to begin

Maika
The paternal home of the bride

Mala Badal
A Bengali ritual in which the garlands of the bride and the groom are exchanged between the two

Manamal
A golden thread which is tied to the foreheads of both, the bride as well as the groom

Mandap
The special place where the wedding rituals take place

Mangal Ghot
A small vessel used for storing sacred water

Mangal Sutra
A special necklace with black beads which is regarded as the wedding necklace

Mangalayam
The act of stringing the wedding necklace

Manglik
A special condition in an individual’s horoscope

Mantra
Chanting special hymns

Matha Tekna
Bowing down to elders to ask for their blessings

Mauli
A red colored thread scared thread

Maulvi
A Muslim cleric

Mehandi
Henna

Meher
Dowry paid to the bride’s family by the groom’s family during the wedding

Milni
Receiving the groom and his family at the bride’s home

Minji
A ritual in which the toe of the groom is adorned with rings

Mithai
Sweets

Mooh Dikhai ki Rasam
A ritual through which the bride is introduced to her new family

Moti ki Sehra
A veil made of pearls for the groom

Murthasaese
A ceremony in which the newly weds receive the blessings of their families

Naandi
A pre wedding pooja in which the bride and the groom are given a ritualistic bath

Nagoli vasthra
A ritual in which the bride’s family welcomes their new son in law

Nai Badya
A special homage offered to the divine powers

Nalagu
The wedding ceremony

Namaskaram
Paying homage to the elders of the family after which they would bless the bride and groom

Narivan
A scared necklace made of multi colored threads of cotton

Nariyal
Coconut, a must for most Indian weddings

Nath
A special ornament for the nose worn traditionally by brides

Navagraha Pooja
A special pooja for appeasing the Gods of the nine planets of the universe

Nikaah
A Muslim wedding in which a contract is signed between the bride and the groom

Nikasi
A ritual following which the groom leaves for the wedding venue

Oonjal
Malabodol or exchange of garlands between the bride and the groom

Paath
Special prayers which are recited during the marriage ceremony

Panchang
A Hindu almanac which provides wedding dates for most communities of India

Pandit
A Hindu priest

Patrika
A marriage contract for Hindus

Phool Sajja
The marriage bed decorated with flowers for Bengali weddings

Poojari
The main priest at a Hindu wedding

Pradhishanam
The three journeys of the bride around the wedding mandap holding the hands of the groom

Puhiyaapla
A term pertaining to Muslim weddings, this indicates a newly married man

Quwwali
A special form of music pertaining to Muslim weddings

Qoran or Koran
The holy book for Muslims

Reception
A special dinner to celebrate the wedding

Rumalla Sahib
Referred to indicate the four pieces of cloth used to cover the Holy Book

Saali
Sister in law or the wife’s sister

Sacrament
An important ritual of religion

Sadaya
A special treat served in honor of the wedding

Saagai
The engagement ceremony

Samooha Vivaham
A number of weddings taking place at the same venue

Sangeet
A special ceremony which precedes the wedding

Shagan
The formal engagement of a wedding for Sikhs

Sindhooram
Vermillion, a mark of which on the forehead of the bride signifies her married status

Sthreedhanam
Dowry

Tanchoi
A special fabric, famous for making saris

Tangail
A special cotton material, found predominantly in West Bengal and used for making saris and other handlooms

Tappas
A repertoire of wedding songs

Tattava
A Bengali ritual in which elaborate gifts which are exchanged between the families of the groom and the bride

Thaali
A special necklace which is considered sacred and which the groom puts on the bride

Thaalikettu
The ceremony in which the Thaali is put on the bride

Uptaan
A ceremony in which the bride to be is beautified with a turmeric paste

Urdha-morthu
A special, religious ritual in which daal or lentils are grinded

Uroos
A term used to refer to a Muslim bride

Vaana
A term used to denote a formal commitment

Vadava Vanu
A ceremony in which the bride is sent off to her husband’s home

Vadhu pravesh
A ceremony after which the bride enters her husband’s home

Vag
Gold strings

Valeena
A Muslim wedding reception

Valima
A wedding reception to celebrate Islamic marriages

Vanwa
A ritualistic oil ceremony

Var ponke
A ceremony through which the groom is welcomed to the bride’s home

Vara pooja
A pooja to honor the groom

Varmaala
Wedding garlands

Varghodo
The procession which arrives at the wedding venue with the groom

Variv
The husband’s home as referred to in Kashmiri

Varova
A special ceremony which takes place 8 days after the wedding

Vidai
The ceremony following which the bride leaves her paternal home for her husband’s home

Vivaha
The actual marriage ceremony

Vivaha Hawan
The sacred fire around which a marriage takes place

Vridhdhi
A Bengali ceremony in which homage is paid to the dead ancestors of both the families

Wachuns
Traditional songs, which are sung during Kashmiri weddings

Wadio
A special neck ornament

Wari
Gifts which are given to the bride from the groom’s house during the wedding

Yedur Kansani
A ceremony in which women from both the sides meet and exchange greetings

Yegnopavit
A ceremony in which the groom wears the sacred thread which is a must wear for all Brahmin men

Yoni
A term denoting the source or origin

Zang
A gift which is given as a symbol or as a good omen