Mangalasutra

Common card · No. 208845

A mangala sutra (Sanskrit: मङ्गलसूत्रम्, romanised: maṅgalasūtram), or tali (ISO: tāḷi), is a necklace worn by certain groups of married women from the Indian subcontinent. It is typically associated with Hindu weddings, during which a ceremony known as the Mangalya Dharanam (Sanskrit for 'wearing the auspicious') may be conducted, upon which the mangalasutra is tied around the neck of the bride by the groom. Depending on regions and communities, its use is attested among some non-Hindus, though the rituals and beliefs attached to it may differ. Similarly, this necklace and its ceremonial use are not a systematic element of Hindu matrimonial traditions, being absent, at least historically, in several communities. Mangalasutra literally means "an auspicious thread" that is knotted around the bride's neck and is worn by her for the remainder of her marriage. It is usually a necklace with black beads strung from a black or yellow thread prepared with turmeric. Sometimes gold, white or red...

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