Kalyana pathirikai matter
Tamil wedding invitation wording, in English
What to write on your kalyana pathirikai — whole wordings to copy, a line for every ceremony, and each word on the card explained.
A Tamil kalyana pathirikai often opens with a line for the family deity and Subha Muhurtha Pathirikai, names the groom (Thiruniraichelvan) and the bride (Thiruniraichelvi) with their parents, gives the date, the muhurtham and the hall, and ends with the names of those who await you. Six wordings below are ready to copy.
Updated
How a kalyana pathirikai reads, top to bottom
An opening blessing
Optional. A line to Sri Ganesha, or to the family's deity — "Sri Murugan Thunai" — above a pillaiyar suzhi.
Subha Muhurtha Pathirikai
The heading: "the card of the auspicious hour".
The invitation
With the blessings of the elders, the family invites you — with your whole family.
The bride and groom
Thiruniraichelvan before the groom's name, Thiruniraichelvi before the bride's — or, in many families, Chi. and Chi. La. Sow.
The muhurtham
The day and date, the Tamil month and date if you wish, and the muhurtham — when the thali is tied.
The venue
The kalyana mandapam, its area and the city — with a map, if you send it digitally.
The other ceremonies
Nichayathartham, the nalangu, the janavasam and reception, and the feast — each with its day, time and place.
The names at the foot
"Thangal nalvaravai virumbum" — the family who await your coming.
An opening line, if you wish
Many Tamil cards begin with a line for Sri Ganesha or the family's own deity; others with Thirumana Azhaippu, "wedding invitation", alone. Every wording below works either way.
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To Sri Ganesha
|| Sri Ganesaya Namaha ||
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The family's deity
|| [Sri Murugan] Thunai ||
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Without a deity's name
|| Thirumana Azhaippu ||
Wordings to copy
Change the words in brackets to yours.
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From the groom's parents
Subha Muhurtha Pathirikai With the blessings of our elders, we invite you and your family to the wedding of our son Thiruniraichelvan [Karthik] with Thiruniraichelvi [Lakshmi] daughter of Thirumathi [Revathi] and Thiru [P. Krishnan], [Mylapore, Chennai] Muhurtham: [Friday, 22 January 2027] at [8:10 am] — please be seated by [7:45 am] Venue: [Sri Lakshmi Mahal, T. Nagar, Chennai] Thangal nalvaravai virumbum: Thirumathi [Uma] and Thiru [S. Raman]
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From the bride's parents
Subha Muhurtha Pathirikai With the blessings of our elders, we invite you and your family to the wedding of our daughter Thiruniraichelvi [Lakshmi] with Thiruniraichelvan [Karthik] son of Thirumathi [Uma] and Thiru [S. Raman], [Adyar, Chennai] Muhurtham: [Friday, 22 January 2027] at [8:10 am] Venue: [Sri Lakshmi Mahal, T. Nagar, Chennai] The reception is the evening before, from [7 pm]. Lunch on banana leaves follows the muhurtham. Anbudan azhaikkum: Thirumathi [Revathi] and Thiru [P. Krishnan]
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In plain English
Mrs. [Uma] and Mr. [S. Raman] and Mrs. [Revathi] and Mr. [P. Krishnan] request the pleasure of your company at the wedding of [Karthik] and [Lakshmi] on [Friday, 22 January 2027] Muhurtham: [8:10 am] — please be seated by [7:45 am] at [Sri Lakshmi Mahal, T. Nagar, Chennai] Lunch follows the wedding.
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From the couple
[Karthik] and [Lakshmi] are getting married! With the blessings of our families, we would love you to be with us in [Chennai] — the reception on [Thursday, 21 January], and the muhurtham the next morning, [Friday, 22 January 2027], at [8:10 am]. Every ceremony, with its time and place, is in our invitation. With love, [Karthik and Lakshmi]
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Short, for WhatsApp
Vanakkam [Subramanian mama and family], With the blessings of our elders, our son [Karthik] is getting married to [Lakshmi] on [Friday, 22 January 2027] in [Chennai]; the muhurtham is at [8:10 am]. Please come with your family and bless them. Every ceremony, with its time and a map, is here: [link] [Uma and S. Raman]
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For the reception
Thirumathi [Uma] and Thiru [S. Raman] invite you to the reception of [Karthik] and [Lakshmi] on [Thursday, 21 January 2027], from [7 pm] at [Sri Lakshmi Mahal, T. Nagar, Chennai] Dinner will be served.
A line for each ceremony
For the foot of the card, or a page of its own.
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Nichayathartham
Nichayathartham (engagement) · [Sunday, 6 December 2026] · [10 am] · [the Krishnan home, Mylapore]
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Pandakkal muhurtham
Pandakkal muhurtham · [Monday, 18 January 2027] · [7 am] · [the Krishnan home, Mylapore]
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Nalangu
Nalangu · [Wednesday, 20 January 2027] · [5 pm] · [the Krishnan home, Mylapore]
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Janavasam and reception
Janavasam and reception · [Thursday, 21 January 2027] · from [6 pm] · [Sri Lakshmi Mahal, T. Nagar]
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Muhurtham
Muhurtham · [Friday, 22 January 2027] · [8:10 am] — please be seated by [7:45 am] for the thali · [Sri Lakshmi Mahal, T. Nagar]
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Kalyana virundhu
Kalyana virundhu (the wedding lunch) · after the muhurtham, from [11:30 am] · on banana leaves
Every word on the card, explained
- Kalyana pathirikai
- The Tamil wedding invitation.
- Subha Muhurtha Pathirikai
- "The card of the auspicious hour" — the heading of many cards.
- Thunai
- "With the grace of" — as in "Sri Murugan Thunai", a line for the family's deity at the top.
- Pillaiyar suzhi
- The small mark at the very top of many cards, for a good beginning.
- Thiruniraichelvan and Thiruniraichelvi
- Written before the groom's and the bride's names: "one blessed with every grace".
- Chi. and Chi. La. Sow.
- What many families write instead: Chi. before the groom's name, Chi. La. Sow. before the bride's.
- Thiru and Thirumathi
- Mr. and Mrs.
- Amarar
- "The late", for a grandparent who has passed away.
- Muhurtham
- The auspicious time for the wedding — when the thali is tied.
- Thali
- The sacred thread or pendant the groom ties around the bride's neck, with three knots.
- Metti
- The toe rings the groom puts on the bride's feet.
- Nichayathartham
- The engagement.
- Pandakkal muhurtham
- The first post of the wedding pandal is set up and blessed, days before.
- Nalangu
- The playful games between the bride and groom, with the families laughing along.
- Janavasam
- The groom's welcome the evening before the wedding — today often with the reception.
- Kasi yatrai
- The groom sets off, in fun, for Kashi — until the bride's father talks him into marrying instead.
- Oonjal
- The couple sit on a swing while the women of the family sing.
- Kalyana virundhu
- The wedding feast, served on banana leaves.
- Thangal nalvaravai virumbum
- "Wishing for your coming" — the family's names at the foot of the card.
- Anbudan azhaikkum
- "Inviting you with love" — another way the names at the foot begin.
Before you print or send
Write names with their initials as the family does
"S. Raman" — the initial is often the father's name. Copy each name exactly as its family writes it.
Give the muhurtham, and when to be seated
Morning muhurthams start on time: "8:10 am — please be seated by 7:45 am".
Say clearly if the reception comes first
Many Tamil families hold the reception the evening before the wedding. Put both days on the card so no one misses either.
Add the Tamil month and date only as your priest gives them
Copy them exactly from the family priest or the panchangam — never guess them.
Send it early to family abroad
Singapore, Dubai, the US — four to six weeks before, and earlier for anyone who needs a visa.
A kalyana pathirikai that opens
Kolam turns these words into an invitation where a brass lamp is lit and a kolam is drawn as guests scroll, your names at its heart — every ceremony with its time and place, and each family greeted by name.
Free to try · ₹1,999 when you’re ready to send
Questions families ask
What is written on a Tamil wedding invitation?
Often: an optional line for the family deity, Subha Muhurtha Pathirikai, the groom (Thiruniraichelvan) and the bride (Thiruniraichelvi) with their parents, the date and the muhurtham, the hall, and the family's names at the foot.
What do Thiruniraichelvan and Thiruniraichelvi mean?
"One blessed with every grace" — written before the groom's and the bride's names on many Tamil cards. Other families write Chi. and Chi. La. Sow. instead.
Why is the reception before the wedding?
Many Tamil weddings have an early-morning muhurtham, so the reception — often with the janavasam — is held the evening before, when everyone can come.
Should the card begin with a deity's name?
Only if your family wishes. Many cards begin with Sri Ganesaya Namaha or the family's deity — "Sri Murugan Thunai"; others with Thirumana Azhaippu alone. Every wording here works either way.
Can we send the kalyana pathirikai on WhatsApp?
Yes. With Invitetale it is a link where a brass lamp is lit and a kolam is drawn as guests scroll, with each family's name, the muhurtham, every ceremony and a map. Free to try; ₹1,999 once to send.
Sending it on WhatsApp? Wedding invitation messages, ready to copy.