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EveryShaadi

Wedding traditions of South Asia

Saptapadi and the sacred fire, mehndi and haldi, baraat and nikah: the longest, loudest weddings anywhere. 119 traditions on EveryShaadi so far.

🇮🇳 Kochi, IndiaKasavuകസാവ് The white cotton and gold border attire worn by Malayalis for weddings and festivals.Attire · The weeks before

🇮🇳 Bhuj, India and 1 moreBandhani A traditional Indian tie-dye method that creates intricate dot patterns by binding small sections of cloth before dyeingAttire · Engagement and betrothal

🇮🇳 India and 1 moreAlpanaআলপনা (Bengali) Rice flour floor paintings that bless homes and mark wedding celebrations in Bengal.Adornment · The weeks before

🇮🇳 IndiaShankha White conch shell bangles worn by Bengali Hindu married women as a symbol of their husband's well-being.Adornment · Engagement and betrothal

🇮🇳 India and 1 moreToe ring A silver band worn on the second toe to mark a woman as married in India.Adornment · The ceremony

🇮🇳 India and 2 moreMangalsutraमङ्गलसूत्रम् (maṅgalasūtram) The sacred necklace tied around the bride's neck to mark her marriage.Adornment · The ceremony

🇮🇳 IndiaMehndi The henna body art applied to brides and guests before a South Asian wedding ceremony.Adornment · The weeks before

🇮🇳 India and 2 moreAltaআলতা (Bengali) A red dye applied to hands and feet as an auspicious adornment in South Asian weddings and festivals.Adornment · The weeks before

🇮🇳 IndiaGana A sacred red thread tied to wrists for protection during wedding rituals in parts of India.Adornment · The weeks before

🇮🇳 Hyderabad, IndiaKhara dupattaKhada dupatta (Urdu: کھڑا دوپٹہ) The upright stole worn by Hyderabadi Muslim brides as part of their traditional wedding ensemble.Attire · The ceremony

🇳🇵 Nepal and 2 moreKhata A ceremonial scarf offered to show respect and welcome at weddings and other gatherings in Tibet and Nepal.Adornment · Reception, dance and gifts

🇮🇳 Delhi, India and 4 moreSindoorसिंदूर (Hindi) The vermilion powder a Hindu husband applies to his wife's hair parting to mark her marriage.Adornment · Engagement and betrothal

🇮🇳 IndiaDejhoor A hexagonal ear ornament worn by Kashmiri Pandit women to mark their marriage.Adornment · The eve

🇮🇳 Patiala, IndiaParanda A silk thread hair ornament worn by Punjabi women during weddings and festivals.Adornment · The weeks before

🇮🇳 Firozabad, India and 1 moreBangle A rigid circular bracelet worn by women in South Asia and beyond, often marking marital status or festive occasions.Adornment · The ceremony

🇮🇳 India and 2 moreNose jewelNath A nose piercing ornament that signals marital status and social standing in South Asia and beyond.Adornment · The weeks before

Photo credits on this page

The small pictures above come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences. Some are cropped to fit.

Gana: William J Sisti, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
Mehndi: AKS.9955, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
Toe ring: Wikiss, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
Shankha: Salil Kumar Mukherjee, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
Alta: Shounak Ray, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
Bandhani: RubyGoes, CC BY 2.0, source
Alpana: Tripan123, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
Paranda: Biswarup Ganguly, CC BY 3.0, source
Sindoor: Masum-al-hasan, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
Dejhoor: Unknown author, Public domain, source
Khara dupatta: Kinshuk Sunil, CC BY 2.0, source
Mangalsutra: Ackroydman, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
Khata: Wiki-uk, CC BY 3.0, source
Bangle: schwiki, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
Nose jewel: Etan Doronne @ www.myindiaexperience.com, CC BY-SA 3.0, source

The weekly EveryShaadi

Every week: one wedding tradition from somewhere new, the wedding days coming up around the world, and one idea explained.