Indian wedding glossary · The functions
What is Mameru?
Also written: Mosaalu, મામેરું
Mameru is the Gujarati custom where the bride's maternal uncle (mama) brings gifts for her, traditionally including her wedding saree, called the panetar, and her bangles.
- Who keeps it
- Gujarati Hindu and Jain families.
- When
- A day or two before the wedding, often on the same day as the mandvo or pithi.
About Mameru
What should you know about Mameru?
The mama arrives with his family carrying trays of clothes, jewellery, sweets and dry fruit for the bride and her family. The panetar is traditionally white or cream with a red border, and many brides wear it for the wedding rituals.
Mameru is a show of the mother's family's love for the bride and is often held with songs and a meal.
In the order of functions
Where does Mameru come in an Indian wedding?
A day or two before the wedding, often on the same day as the mandvo or pithi.
- 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 Mameru?
Mameru, Friday, 13 February, 5 pm, at the Patel residence, Ahmedabad.
Related words
Words that go with Mameru
- Mayra
Mayra, also called bhaat, is the Rajasthani and Haryanvi custom where the bride's or groom's maternal uncle and his family bring clothes, jewellery and gifts for the wedding.
- Mandvo
Mandvo is the Gujarati word for the wedding canopy, and the mandvo or mandap mahurat is the puja when that canopy is set up and blessed before the wedding.
- Pithi
Pithi is the Rajasthani and Gujarati name for the haldi ceremony, when a paste of turmeric and gram flour (pithi) is applied to the bride or groom by the family.
- Grah shanti
Grah shanti is a puja to the nine planets (navagraha), held by each family before the wedding to seek peace and good fortune for the couple's life together.
- Kankotri
Kankotri is the Gujarati word for the wedding invitation card, named after kanku (kumkum), the red powder families mark it with for luck.
Questions
Mameru, answered
What is Mameru?
Mameru is the Gujarati custom where the bride's maternal uncle (mama) brings gifts for her, traditionally including her wedding saree, called the panetar, and her bangles.
Which families celebrate Mameru?
Gujarati Hindu and Jain families.
When does Mameru happen in the order of wedding functions?
A day or two before the wedding, often on the same day as the mandvo or pithi.
What do families write on the invitation for Mameru?
Mameru, Friday, 13 February, 5 pm, at the Patel residence, Ahmedabad.
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