Indian Wedding Terms Glossary: 50 Events, Rituals & Roles

General wedding words

1. Vivah: a Sanskrit-derived word used for marriage or a wedding, especially in Hindu contexts.
2. Shaadi: a widely used Hindi-Urdu word for wedding or marriage.
3. Lagna or Lagan: a word that may refer to marriage, the wedding occasion or an astrologically selected time, depending on language and context.
4. Muhurat or Muhurtham: an auspicious time selected for an important ceremony; spelling and calculation traditions vary.
5. Mandap: the ceremonial structure or space where key wedding rites may be performed.
6. Puja: a devotional offering or worship practice. It can appear in wedding-related ceremonies but is also used in many other settings.
7. Pandit, Purohit or Priest: terms used for a religious officiant in some Hindu ceremonies; community-specific titles differ.
8. Kanya: a Sanskrit-derived word commonly used for the bride or daughter in ceremony language.
9. Var or Vara: a Sanskrit-derived word commonly used for the groom in ceremony language.
10. Dulhan and Dulha: common Hindi-Urdu terms for bride and groom.

Engagement and pre-wedding events

11. Roka: a family recognition or commitment ceremony used in some North Indian communities.
12. Sagai: an engagement ceremony or the engagement itself.
13. Tilak: a forehead mark; in some wedding traditions the term also names a groom-side or family ceremony.
14. Mehendi: henna applied to the skin and, by extension, the gathering centered on it.
15. Haldi: turmeric; the name is also used for a pre-wedding application ceremony in many families.
16. Pithi: a Gujarati term often used for a turmeric or cleansing-paste ceremony related to haldi.
17. Sangeet: a music-and-dance celebration associated with many North Indian and diaspora weddings.
18. Garba: a Gujarati folk-dance tradition that may be part of a wedding celebration as well as festivals such as Navratri.
19. Grah Shanti: a family religious ceremony seeking peace or auspiciousness before the wedding in some Hindu traditions.
20. Ganesh Puja: worship of Ganesha, commonly associated with beginning an undertaking and removing obstacles.

Arrival and welcoming terms

21. Baraat: the groom's procession or arrival party in many North Indian weddings.
22. Varghodo: a Gujarati word commonly used for the groom's wedding procession.
23. Baraati: a participant in the groom's procession or wedding party.
24. Milni: a welcoming exchange between members of the two families in some North Indian and Sikh wedding settings.
25. Aarti: a lamp-based act of worship or welcome that may be used when greeting the groom or couple.
26. Sehra: a groom's face veil or floral ornament worn with a turban in some communities.
27. Safa or Pagdi: forms of ceremonial headwear or turban; style and terminology vary by region.
28. Kalgi: an ornament attached to the groom's turban in some wedding traditions.
29. Antarpat: a cloth held between the couple during part of some Hindu wedding ceremonies before they see one another.
30. Jaimala or Varmala: the exchange of flower garlands between the couple.

Ceremony terms

31. Agni: fire, treated as sacred and central to many Hindu wedding rites.
32. Havan or Homa: a ritual offering into a sacred fire.
33. Gathbandhan or Granthi Bandhan: the tying or joining of the couple's garments in some ceremonies.
34. Hasta Milap or Panigrahan: terms associated with joining or taking hands; exact ritual use varies.
35. Kanyadaan: a traditional rite involving the bride's family in some Hindu weddings; families interpret or adapt it differently.
36. Pheras: ceremonial rounds around the sacred fire. The number and accompanying vows vary by tradition.
37. Saptapadi: “seven steps,” a key marriage rite in many Hindu traditions involving seven steps or vows.
38. Laja Homa: an offering into the sacred fire, often involving puffed rice, in some Hindu wedding traditions.
39. Mangalsutra Dharana: the act of tying or placing a marriage necklace in traditions where a mangalsutra or related form is used.
40. Sindoor Daan: the application of vermilion in the bride's hair parting in communities where this practice is followed.

Family, celebration and post-wedding terms

41. Aashirwad: blessing; the term may refer to blessings given by elders or a named ceremony.
42. Saali or Saalis: the bride's sister or sisters in Hindi kinship terminology.
43. Joota Chupai: a playful custom in which members of the bride's side hide the groom's shoes in some North Indian weddings.
44. Mameru or Mosalu: Gujarati terms associated with gifts or participation from the bride's maternal family; local usage varies.
45. Maayra: a maternal-family gift tradition found in some North Indian and Rajasthani communities.
46. Vidaai or Bidai: the bride's ceremonial departure from her family home or the closing farewell after the wedding.
47. Griha Pravesh: an entry or welcome into a home; newly married couples may have a family-specific version.
48. Reception: a social celebration after the marriage ceremony, often with dinner, speeches, music or dancing.
49. Walima: a wedding banquet associated with Muslim marriage celebrations.
50. Nikah: the Islamic marriage contract and ceremony; practices and accompanying events vary across Muslim communities.

How guests should use this glossary

Use the couple's invitation, wedding website or family guidance as the authority for their event. Ask respectfully when a term is unfamiliar, avoid assuming that one community's sequence applies to another, and follow any dress or participation instructions given by the hosts.

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