Indian wedding glossary · Wedding day rituals
What is Mala badal?
Also written: Mala bodol, মালাবদল
Mala badal is the Bengali exchange of garlands between the bride and groom, done three times, right after the bride reveals her face at shubho drishti.
- Who keeps it
- Bengali Hindu families.
- When
- Right after saat paak and shubho drishti, before sampradan and the fire rituals.
About Mala badal
What should you know about Mala badal?
The bride, still seated on the pidi held up by her brothers, exchanges flower garlands with the groom three times. The guests cheer and blow shankh (conch shells), and the women ululate.
It is followed by the sampradan and the rites at the fire. Photographers try hard not to miss it, because it happens quickly and right after the first look.
In the order of functions
Where does Mala badal come in an Indian wedding?
Right after saat paak and shubho drishti, before sampradan and the fire rituals.
- Before the weddingFixing the match, the engagement, the date and the card.
- The functionsPujas, haldi, mehndi, sangeet and the family days before the wedding.
- Wedding day ritualsFrom the baraat to the pheras, nikah and anand karaj.
- After the weddingVidaai, the new home, the reception and the first visits.
Planning your own days? The free wedding function order planner puts your functions in a sensible order with dates.
On the card
What do families write on the invitation for Mala badal?
Lagna: 9:12 pm. Shubho drishti and mala badal soon after.
Related words
Words that go with Mala badal
- Shubho drishti
Shubho drishti is the Bengali ritual of the auspicious first look, when the bride, carried on a wooden seat, lowers the betel leaves covering her face and she and the groom look at each other.
- Saat paak
Saat paak is the Bengali ritual where the bride, seated on a low wooden seat (pidi) lifted by her brothers, is carried around the groom seven times with her face hidden behind betel leaves.
- Sindoor daan
Sindoor daan is the moment in many Hindu weddings when the groom applies sindoor, red vermilion powder, in the parting of the bride's hair for the first time.
- Varmala
Varmala, or jaimala, is the exchange of flower garlands between the bride and groom, which marks their acceptance of each other in front of the guests.
- Kanakanjali
Kanakanjali is the Bengali farewell ritual where the bride, as she leaves, throws a handful of rice and coins over her shoulder into her mother's saree without looking back.
Questions
Mala badal, answered
What is Mala badal?
Mala badal is the Bengali exchange of garlands between the bride and groom, done three times, right after the bride reveals her face at shubho drishti.
Which families celebrate Mala badal?
Bengali Hindu families.
When does Mala badal happen in the order of wedding functions?
Right after saat paak and shubho drishti, before sampradan and the fire rituals.
What do families write on the invitation for Mala badal?
Lagna: 9:12 pm. Shubho drishti and mala badal soon after.
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