What is a Mangalsutra?
It is a combination of gold pendants with sometimes black beads to prevent the couple from evil energies and spread happiness to the couple. ‘“Mangal” means holy and “Sutra” means thread. During the wedding ceremony, the groom ties the mangalsutra around the neck of the bride. In Indian culture a mangalsutra is equivalent to a western engagement ring or a wedding bands.
Maharashtrian Mangalsutra based on the culture has over a 15 names like Tanmaniya, Taagpaag, Dejhoor, Thaali, Nallapusalu, Hirumangalyam, Minnu, Manthrakodi, Mangalasutramu , Pustelu, Maangalyamu, Ramar Thaali , Bottu, Vatis, Dhaaremani, Muhurthmani, Maangalya-Sutra.
There are some cultures that do not wear mangalsutra. But below is a table that will give you glimpse of mangalsutras in different cultures.
1. Kashmiri Mangalsutra (Dijhor, Dejhooor)
The Kashmiri brides have a very interesting form of mangalsutra. They are actually earrings made of gold woven in plain red thread. The parent give the earrings to their kashmiri bride during the wedding ceremony. After the wedding, when she goes to her husband’s house, a gold chain replaces the red thread. The chain, given by her in-laws, is called “Aath”. Some also add “Aathoru”, which is a small piece of golden ornament.
I would like to quote a couple of lines in Kashmiri about the mangalsutra.
“Dejhore gormaiy bejbrarey
Deki bade kuuri deke pooshnay”
This means, Dejhore was made in Vijeshwara, a place in Kashmir. And may the girl who wears it be blessed.
2. Sindhi Mangalsutra
In the Sindhi culture mangalsutra is a very important part of the wedding. It is a black and gold beaded chain with a pendant. The design of the mangalsutra depends on what the bride and the groom like. These days brides are opting out for a more modern design with the idea that they can wear it on a everyday basis.
3. Bihari Mangalsutra (Taagpaag)
In the Bihari culture, married women wear a mangalsutra known as Taagpaag. Women also wear toe rings known as “bichwa”, as a symbol of marriage. Toe rings are integral to Indian customs. They are considered essential for the woman’s reproductive system. Basically Taagpag is a another word for mangalsutra. It black beaded chain with pendant of their choice.
4. Tamil Mangalsutra (Thaali Kodi)
The Tamil mangalsutra or thaali is the token symbol of a Hindu marriage, just as wedding bands symbolize commitment, union and respect for one another. “Mangala Dharanam” is the ceremony when the groom puts on a Thaali on his bride. Thaali has a few more names such as Thirumangalayam, Mangalyam, Thaaly, Kodi.
Thaali comes in many shapes and forms. These derived mythologically or based on the family customs. The imprints on the Thaali have symbolic representations such as the family deity, Tulsi plant, Lord Shiva and Goddess Meenakshi. It weighs about 4-5 grams of gold. A family can choose to make it more elaborate by adding gold, coins, diamonds, gems to the main Thaali or on the sides as shown below.
During a Tamil wedding, Thaali is worn with a gold chain or “Manja Kayiru.” It is a yellow thread during ceremony. The yellow thread is replaced with a gold chain or a mangalsutra chain with black beads, known as “Nallapusalu”.
5. Kerela Mangalsutra (Minnu)
In Kerala, the Hindus call the mangalsutra “Thaali”’ and the Christians call it “Minnu”. Every Christian bride has a Minnu. The Minnu is a pendant with a cross, a symbol of Christianity, on a gold medallion shaped like a heart. The heart symbolises the concept of love. The cross represents the relationship a husband and wife must follow. The same relationship between Jesus and his bride, the church. Five or seven gold dots form the cross. The Minnu passed through seven strands of thread. Seven represents the bride, the groom, the couple’s parents and the church.
