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INDIAN WEDDING GLOSSARY

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

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