INDIA, March 18, 2016 (Times of India): Mangalsutra, the wedding chain worn by Hindu women, is usually chosen according to the customs of the groom’s family, with gold being the common element in all. It is equivalent to the ring worn in Western wedding tradition. Every region has its own beautiful interpretation of the marital cord though.
Maharashtrians wear mangalsutra, which is a gold chain with gold and black beads and two semi-circular hollow spheres aka vatis. The two vatis signify the coming together of the bride and groom’s family. In Gujarati and Marwari community, the mangalsutra has a diamond pendant on a double strand of black seed beads, interspersed with gold beads. The Tamilians wear the thaali, which is thick cord with an extraordinarily crafted pendant of religious designs which varies with every community. Most often, the pendant has the images of Goddesses or religious symbols with family crest or monogram engraved on them.
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