Tilak
A mark of blessing on the forehead, and in some communities the groom's welcome by the bride's family.
Also: tika, teeka, tilaka
A tilak is a mark made on the forehead with sandalwood, turmeric, kumkum or ash, put on by a priest or an elder as a blessing. In a North Indian wedding the bride's father or brother applies tilak to the groom, often a day or hours before the ceremony, along with gifts, in a rite that formally accepts him into the family. In Nepal and in some Bihari communities the rite is also called tika and the groom's side may be given the tilak as part of the match. The mark is a symbol of welcome as much as worship.
Region: South Asia