Vivahteet

Vivahteet is a term used in some Indian languages to refer to the rites, ceremonies, and customary practices associated with marriage, as well as the transitional period surrounding a wedding. The precise meaning varies by region and community, but it generally denotes a structured sequence of rituals that take place before, during, and after the wedding day.

Etymology: the word blends vivaha, meaning marriage in Sanskrit and many modern Indian languages, with regional specimens of teet or a related morpheme that indicate a phase or ceremony, yielding a sense of "marriage rites" or "wedding cycle."

Cultural context: Practices designated as vivahteet differ across Hindu, Jain, Sikh, Muslim, and regional traditions. Pre-wedding rites may include engagement or roka, mehendi, and sangeet; the wedding ceremony itself may involve formal vows, the exchange of garlands, and other region-specific rites; post-wedding observances can include rituals such as griha pravesh or vidaai. The order, language of mantras, attire, and symbolism vary by community and geography.

Contemporary usage: In many urban and diaspora contexts, vivahteet also refers to the organization, planning, and media portrayal of weddings, including event planning and wedding-related services that market the wedding cycle under the term.

See also: Vivaha; Wedding in India; Hindu wedding rites.