Marathi wedding invitations: Lagna Patrika wording and the ritual order
A Marathi wedding invitation is called a Lagna Patrika. Marathi weddings tend to be shorter and less ornate than their northern counterparts, and the rituals are unusually precise about timing, which is why the muhurat is printed so prominently.
The single most distinctive moment is the Antarpat, and it is the one guests most often miss because they arrive late. This page explains it, along with the rest of the sequence and wording for the invitation.
The Antarpat and the Mangalashtak
Before the couple see each other, a silk shawl called the Antarpat is held between them. Neither can see the other.
While it is held, the priest and the gathered family chant the Mangalashtak, eight verses of blessing. Families often write their own final verse naming the couple, which is a lovely tradition and worth asking your priest about early.
At the exact muhurat, the Antarpat is dropped. The couple see each other, garlands are exchanged, and the room erupts. If your invitation gives a muhurat time, this is what it is timing.
The rituals in order
| Ritual | What happens |
|---|---|
| Sakhar Puda | The engagement. Sugar is given to the bride along with a saree, formalising the match. |
| Kelvan | A family meal held at both homes, with an offering to the family deity. |
| Halad Chadavane | The turmeric ceremony. Traditionally the paste used on the groom is then carried to the bride. |
| Seemant Puja | The bride's parents welcome the groom's family and honour the groom. |
| Ganpati Puja and Punyahavachan | Invoking Ganpati and purifying the space before the ceremony. |
| Antarpat and Mangalashtak | The shawl, the eight verses, and the drop at the muhurat. |
| Kanyadaan and Vivah Homa | The giving of the bride, and the sacred fire. |
| Saptapadi | Seven steps, each with a vow. |
| Karmasampatti and Varat | Concluding rites, then the procession to the groom's home. |
What Marathi brides traditionally wear
Worth knowing if you are choosing invitation artwork, because the imagery should match.
The bride usually wears a Shalu or a nauvari saree, often in green or deep red. The Mundavalya, strings of pearls tied across the forehead, is worn by both the bride and the groom and is one of the most recognisable Marathi wedding elements. The Nath, the distinctive nose ring, is the other. A generic North Indian bridal illustration on a Marathi invitation looks immediately wrong to anyone from the community.
Lagna Patrika wording you can copy
Copy any of these and change the names, dates and places. They are written to be read out loud, so they sound right on a phone screen too.
Shree Ganeshaya Namah
Aamchya kutumbatil shubh prasangi aaplyala saparivar upasthit rahnyachi vinanti.
Chi. [Naav]
chiranjeev [Vadilanche naav]
yanchya shubhvivah
Sau. Ka. Chi. [Naav]
kanya [Vadilanche naav]
Vivah: [Divas, Dinank] · Muhurat [Vel]
Sthal: [Sthal]
Shree Ganeshaya Namah
[Parents' names]
request the honour of your presence
at the wedding of their daughter
[Name]
with
[Name]
Muhurat: [Time] on [Day, Date]
[Venue]
The Antarpat falls at the muhurat. Please be seated by [Time].
[Name] and [Name] are getting married.
Halad: [Date] · [Time]
Lagna: [Date] · Muhurat [Time] sharp
[Venue]
The muhurat is early. Set an alarm.
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Questions people actually ask
What is a Lagna Patrika?
The Marathi term for a wedding invitation. It traditionally leads with the muhurat time, because Marathi ceremonies are timed precisely.
What is the Antarpat?
A silk shawl held between the bride and groom so they cannot see each other. It is dropped at the exact muhurat, after the Mangalashtak verses are chanted, and that moment is the heart of a Marathi wedding.
What is the Mangalashtak?
Eight verses of blessing chanted while the Antarpat is held. Many families write a personal final verse naming the couple, which is worth arranging with your priest in advance.
Why are Marathi wedding muhurats so early?
The auspicious timings calculated for Marathi weddings frequently fall in the early morning, sometimes before sunrise. State the time clearly and more than once on the invitation, because guests do misread it.
What is Mundavalya?
Strings of pearls tied horizontally across the forehead, worn by both the bride and groom. Along with the Nath, it is the most recognisable element of Marathi bridal dress.