Indian wedding glossary · Wedding day rituals
What is Sindoor daan?
Also written: Sindoor, sindur daan, सिंदूर दान
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.
- Who keeps it
- Hindu families across North, East and Central India.
- When
- After the pheras or saptapadi, near the end of the wedding rites.
About Sindoor daan
What should you know about Sindoor daan?
The groom uses a ring, a coin or a small stick, and in many Bengali weddings the bride's head is covered with a new saree, the lajjabastra, after it. Many married women wear sindoor in their hair parting every day.
It is often done together with the mangalsutra, near the end of the wedding rites.
In the order of functions
Where does Sindoor daan come in an Indian wedding?
After the pheras or saptapadi, near the end of the wedding rites.
- 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 Sindoor daan?
Rarely printed; it follows the pheras in the mandap.
Related words
Words that go with Sindoor daan
- Mangalsutra
A mangalsutra is the sacred necklace of black beads and gold that the groom ties around the bride's neck during the wedding, which many married women wear every day.
- Pheras
Pheras are the rounds the bride and groom take around the sacred fire, tied together, with a vow made in each round; in most North Indian weddings there are seven.
- 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.
- 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.
- Vidaai
Vidaai is the farewell of the bride from her parents' home after the wedding, when she leaves with the groom for her new home.
Questions
Sindoor daan, answered
What is 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.
Which families celebrate Sindoor daan?
Hindu families across North, East and Central India.
When does Sindoor daan happen in the order of wedding functions?
After the pheras or saptapadi, near the end of the wedding rites.
What do families write on the invitation for Sindoor daan?
Rarely printed; it follows the pheras in the mandap.
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