Indian wedding glossary · Wedding day rituals
What is Thali?
Also written: Mangalyam, thaali, mangalya dharanam
In South Indian weddings the thali, or mangalyam, is the sacred pendant on a yellow thread or gold chain that the groom ties around the bride's neck at the muhurtham.
- Who keeps it
- Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Malayali families.
- When
- At the muhurtham, after the kanyadanam and before the saptapadi in many weddings.
About Thali
What should you know about Thali?
The tying, called mangalya dharanam or thalikettu, happens at the muhurtham as the nadaswaram and drums play loudly (the getti melam). In many families the groom ties the first knot and his sister ties the rest.
The design of the thali differs between communities and families, and in Kerala Christian weddings the equivalent pendant is the minnu.
In the order of functions
Where does Thali come in an Indian wedding?
At the muhurtham, after the kanyadanam and before the saptapadi in many weddings.
- 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 Thali?
Muhurtham (mangalya dharanam): Sunday, 15 February, 9:00 to 10:30 am.
Related words
Words that go with Thali
- 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.
- Saptapadi
Saptapadi means seven steps: the bride and groom take seven steps together near the sacred fire, each step with a promise, and in many traditions this is the rite that completes the marriage.
- Oonjal
Oonjal is the Tamil ritual where the bride and groom sit together on a decorated swing while married women sing songs, offer them milk and banana, and in many families circle coloured rice balls around them to ward off evil.
- Kashi yatra
Kashi yatra is a playful ritual in many Tamil and Telugu weddings where the groom pretends to leave for Kashi to become an ascetic, and the bride's father persuades him to stay and marry his daughter.
- Jeelakarra bellam
Jeelakarra bellam is the Telugu wedding ritual where the bride and groom place a paste of cumin seeds and jaggery on each other's heads at the exact muhurtham.
Questions
Thali, answered
What is Thali?
In South Indian weddings the thali, or mangalyam, is the sacred pendant on a yellow thread or gold chain that the groom ties around the bride's neck at the muhurtham.
Which families celebrate Thali?
Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Malayali families.
When does Thali happen in the order of wedding functions?
At the muhurtham, after the kanyadanam and before the saptapadi in many weddings.
What do families write on the invitation for Thali?
Muhurtham (mangalya dharanam): Sunday, 15 February, 9:00 to 10:30 am.
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