top of page

INDIAN WEDDING GLOSSARY

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

bottom of page