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What are the ceremonies of an Indian wedding, region by region?

An Indian wedding is a run of ceremonies over several days, and both their names and their order change from region to region: a Tamil wedding turns on the muhurtham, a Bengali one ends with the bou bhaat, a Punjabi one has the jaggo the night before. The lists below set out each tradition’s ceremonies in the order an invitation would give them.

By Momen9 · Updated

Why the order matters on an invitation

Guests plan their travel and their clothes around the list of functions, and relatives from the other side of the family may not know your tradition’s names for them. An invitation that lists each ceremony by its own name, in order, with a line about what it is, saves a great many phone calls.

The ceremonies, tradition by tradition

These are the ceremonies each of Momen9’s regional wedding templates starts with. Customs differ between communities and between families within a region, so treat each list as a starting point to correct, not as a rule.

Royal Rajasthani · Rajasthan

  1. Ganpati Sthapana — We begin by inviting Ganeshji home.
  2. Mehendi — Henna, folk songs and the courtyard.
  3. Sangeet — Ghoomar, dhol and both families on the floor.
  4. Haldi — Turmeric, marigolds and a lot of laughter.
  5. Baraat — The groom arrives with the band.
  6. Pheras — Seven rounds of the sacred fire.
  7. Vidaai — A tearful, joyful send-off.
  8. Reception — Dinner and dancing with everyone.
See the Royal Rajasthani template →

South Indian Classic · South India

  1. Nischayathartham — The engagement, with both families.
  2. Mehendi — Henna and music at home.
  3. Nalangu — Turmeric, games and teasing.
  4. Muhurtham — The auspicious hour. Please be seated by then.
  5. Reception — Dinner with everyone.
See the South Indian Classic template →

Bengali · Bengal

  1. Aiburobhat — The last meal as unmarried, with every favourite dish.
  2. Gaye Holud — Turmeric from one home to the other.
  3. Bor Jatri — The groom and his party arrive.
  4. Shubho Drishti & Mala Badal — The first look, and the exchange of garlands.
  5. Sindoor Daan — The moment that makes it a marriage.
  6. Bou Bhaat — The reception at the groom’s home.
See the Bengali template →

Punjabi · Punjab

  1. Roka — The families said yes.
  2. Mehendi — Henna, dholki and gidda.
  3. Jaggo — Lamps on the head, the whole street awake.
  4. Chooda & Kalire — The red bangles and the kalire.
  5. Anand Karaj — The ceremony at the gurdwara.
  6. Doli — The bride leaves with the groom.
  7. Reception — Dinner, dhol and the dance floor.
See the Punjabi template →

Gujarati · Gujarat

  1. Chandlo Matli — The families sealed it.
  2. Mehendi — Henna and songs.
  3. Pithi — Turmeric and a lot of yellow.
  4. Garba Night — Bring your dandiya.
  5. Jaan — The groom arrives with his people.
  6. Hasta Melap — Hands joined, the vows begin.
  7. Reception — Dinner with everyone.
See the Gujarati template →

Marathi · Maharashtra

  1. Sakharpuda — The engagement.
  2. Halad — Turmeric at both homes.
  3. Sangeet — Music, and a few surprises.
  4. Antarpat & Mangalashtak — The cloth drops as the verses end.
  5. Saptapadi — Seven steps together.
  6. Reception — Dinner with everyone.
See the Marathi template →

Telugu · Andhra & Telangana

  1. Nischitartham — The engagement.
  2. Pellikuthuru & Pellikoduku — Turmeric and blessings at each home.
  3. Mangala Snanam — The auspicious bath.
  4. Kanyadaanam — The bride is given away.
  5. Jeelakarra Bellam & Mangalya Dharana — Cumin and jaggery, then the thali.
  6. Reception — Dinner with everyone.
See the Telugu template →

Tamil · Tamil Nadu

  1. Nichayathartham — The engagement.
  2. Mehendi — Henna and songs at home.
  3. Oonjal — The couple on the swing, songs from the aunts.
  4. Kanyadaanam — The bride is given away.
  5. Muhurtham & Thaali — The thaali is tied. Please be seated by then.
  6. Reception — Dinner with everyone.
See the Tamil template →

Kerala · Kerala

  1. Nischayam — The engagement.
  2. Mehendi — Henna at home.
  3. Sangeet — Music and a little dancing.
  4. Thalikettu — The thali is tied. Please be seated by then.
  5. Sadya — Lunch on a banana leaf, for everyone.
  6. Reception — Dinner with everyone.
See the Kerala template →

North Indian · North India

  1. Roka — The families said yes.
  2. Mehendi — Henna and songs.
  3. Haldi — Turmeric and marigolds.
  4. Sangeet — Both families on the dance floor.
  5. Baraat — The groom arrives with the band.
  6. Pheras — Seven rounds of the sacred fire.
  7. Vidaai — A tearful, joyful send-off.
  8. Reception — Dinner and dancing.
See the North Indian template →

Not every guest is invited to everything

The smaller ceremonies are usually for family and the closest friends, and the wedding and reception for everyone. On a Momen9 invitation you put guests into groups and choose which ceremonies each group sees, so one invitation serves both without anyone reading about a function they are not part of.

Questions people ask next

Do I have to use the ceremonies exactly as a template lists them?
No. A template is a starting point. Every ceremony on it can be renamed, removed, reordered or added to, and you set the real dates, times and venues.
What if the two families follow different traditions?
Start from the tradition the wedding ceremony itself follows and add the other family’s functions to the schedule under their own names. The invitation’s schedule is a list you edit, not a fixed set.

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