Thali Designs for Weddings: Latest Thali Designs with Prices
A thali is the sacred gold thread worn by South Indian brides post-wedding. Here is everything you need to know about the significance of a thali and a few traditional thali designs that we think you will like.
Wedding Photography: Aashish Photography
A marriage, they say, is a match made in heaven and materialised on Earth. This is probably why so many traditions and rituals are connected with marriage. The groom tying a sacred thread around the bride's neck is just one such tradition in Tamil wedding ceremonies, which has a lot of significance for any Tamil bride. The holy thread/necklace is called many different things in different cultures; one such popular term is the Mangalsutra. In Kerala weddings, it is known as Minnu; in Maharashtrian weddings, it is known as Vati; and in Tamil weddings, it is known as Thali.
In Tamil culture, it is known as a Thali or Thirumangalyam. The Thali symbolises the true meaning of marriage and has a lot of significance in Hindu culture. It is not just an ordinary ornament that signifies that a woman is married; it has a lot more meaning than that. "It is a mark of respect, love and dignity which is presented to the wife by her husband on the auspicious wedding day".
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Significance of a Thali
Wedding Photography: Mystic Studios
A thali is the mark of love, respect, and much more. It is adorned with a sacred yellow thread or on a gold and black bead chain. Here is everything you need to know about its importance for a Tamil Hindu bride:
1. "A thali is believed to help regulate a woman's blood pressure.". It is often said that the thali should be in direct contact with the body because the friction controls the blood pressure.
2. When worn in a black and gold beaded chain, the gold beads represent Goddess Parvati, and the black ones stand for Lord Shiva. The beads also symbolize the various emotions and efforts that go into making a husband and wife's relationship strong.
3. Since gold symbolises prosperity and well-being, the gold in a wedding thali is said to bring good luck, happiness, and prosperity to the woman's family.
4. The Thali is a charm believed to ward off the evil eye. Each black bead can absorb negative energy and protect the woman, her husband, and her family from harm. All these are why a Tamil bride keeps her Thali very safely and carefully wears it. Breaking or losing it is considered a bad omen, so women take good care of it. Millennial brides have modernised their Thali designs to an extent, but they even respect and value them just as much.
Types of Thalis in Indian Weddings
Wedding Photography: Neeta Shankar Photography
1. Tamil Nadu Wedding Thali
A wedding thali from this region offers an abundance of intricate designs, with each motif holding a special symbol and meaning. A Tulsi depicts purity, whereas a Shiva design symbolises fertility. These beautiful motifs with a special meaning are a gift to the bride for the groom’s family.
2. Minnu Wedding Thali of Kerala
The Mangalsutra of this beautiful coastal state is called a Minnu and has a fun and interesting design element. The groom ties around the Christian bride's neck a heart-shaped pendant embellished with 13 gold beads threaded through a sacred thread.
3. Ela / Elagu Thali
While the Christians of Kerala tie the Minnu, the Hindus call the Mangalsutra Ela, which means leaf. An Ela wedding Thali boasts a beautifully intricate design of an Ohm symbol embossed on a leaf-shaped pendant. It is bought by the groom’s family for the bride and is tied during the wedding ritual.
4. Ramar Thali
Two stunning and rich gold coins separated by beads and threaded into a black bead necklace make a traditional Telugu Ramar wedding thali pattern. These gold coins the groom’s family gifted to the bride stand for Shiva and Shakti. The beads separating the coins can be of gold or any precious stone.
5. Bottu Wedding Thali
This is another kind of wedding Thali adorned by Telugu brides on their big day. It comes in an elegant circular disc-shaped gold pendant accentuated with intricate carvings. These beautiful carvings hold special meaning and significance to the culture and customs. The vivid red colour of coral stones brings out the divine glow of the bride on her big day. Pearl strands are also used to make the design more memorable.
Latest Traditional Thali Designs
Jewellery: Sampat Jewellers
Thali designs exemplify beauty through their craftsmanship, simplicity through their minimalist yet symbolic designs, and versatility through their adaptation to modern preferences while retaining their cultural and religious significance. Contemporary thali designs often blend traditional motifs with modern styles, catering to diverse tastes while maintaining the essence of the mangal sutra. In addition to gold, mangalsutras are now crafted from other metals like platinum or combined with different materials, offering more options to suit individual preferences.
Price on request
Jewellery: SSR Jewellery
Gold South Indian mangalsutras, also known as Thali designs, hold significant cultural and aesthetic value in South Indian weddings and traditions. They are characterized by their beauty, simplicity, and versatility, each aspect contributing to their enduring popularity and symbolism. While designs can be elaborate, the essence of South Indian mangalsutras lies in their minimalist approach. They are typically not overly ornate, focusing on clean lines and understated elegance.
Price - INR 68,000
Jewellery: Chidambaram Gold Covering
Despite traditional Thali designs, there is room for personalisation. Couples may choose pendant size and chain length variations and even incorporate modern design elements while adhering to cultural norms. These mangalsutras often feature intricate designs such as floral motifs, geometric patterns, or religious symbols like the lotus, peacock, or conch shell. These designs are not just ornamental but also carry cultural and spiritual significance.
Price - INR 59,900
Jewellery: VHV Jewellers
The thali is one of the most encouraging pieces for weddings in Asia. It’s also known as a sacred thread, representing the marriage bond between husband and wife. VHV Jewellers brings this particular moment to life by creating the perfect one-of-a-kind piece. From their latest vintage thali kodi collection., this thali is made in a classic 22-karat gold with the vintage khombhu design with Amman, the Hindu goddess, in the centre. The design features ornate work at the top and bottom, bringing out simplicity and tradition's beauty. On both sides of the thali pendant are two heart gold stoppers with intricate designs that can have the client's name on them for a special touch. There are gold oval pearl stoppers with authentic pearls. Each coin on both sides features Lord Ganesha and Goddess Lakshmi within beautiful dotted-circle coins.
Price on request
Jewellery: Boutique Amukthika
When you are looking for stunning Kerala thali designs, we have just the right inspiration: unique thali designs you should pick for your wedding day. This beautiful thali from Boutique Amukthika features a traditional Palakkad design clubbed with a classic thali design engraved with Saraswathi Devi.
Price: Starts from INR 1250+
Jewellery: Tiysha
Want a traditional thali design with a modern twist? Choose a gorgeous thali necklace in pure silver rather than conventional gold. This Dasavatharam necklace from Tiysha features the ten avatars of Lord Vishnu, crafted in traditional Chettinad thali design.
Price: INR 35,800
Jewellery: S.H Craft & Creation
When choosing trendy mugappu designs for thali chains this wedding season, don’t forget to explore the stunning collection from S.H Craft & Creation. In addition to providing you with elaborate and traditional thali designs, you can also choose from a plethora of modern and minimal thali chains from their latest collection.
Price on request
Jewellery: Geethanjali
When it comes to your wedding, you deserve the best. Then why not choose a thali design that will be your most beautiful adornment and transform it into an heirloom to be cherished for life? Geethanjali offers you this antique traditional Chettinad thali crafted in pure gold.
Price on request
Jewellery: AR Gold Covering
Choosing beautiful Tamil thali chain designs doesn’t always mean that you have to pick heavy and conventional designs. For all the millennial brides, you can always choose a thali design that lets your personality shine bright, just like this pretty gold-plated Bhramana thali with Kerala design by AR Gold Covering.
Price on request
Jewellery: South India Jewels
This is the most traditional and well-known Thali design. It is called the Ramar Maangalyam design and is worn by most South Indian brides. You can always mix modern with traditional by customising your Thali design and adding diamonds and other precious stones.
Price on request
Photography: Weddings by Naveen & Renu
This thali design, Pottu thali, is another very famous and much-worn design. It is simple and minimalistic, and it has a certain charm. The two red beads add a very subtle modern touch to it.
Jewellery: VHV Jewellers
A thali stands for prosperity and good luck, and what else signifies these two aspects better than Goddess Lakshmi herself? Thali designs with an impression of Goddess Lakshmi are quite famous and a perfect way to embrace tradition in the best way.
Price on request
Jewellery: Western Jewellers
This is the most simple and basic Ramar Thali design. While it is very traditional, its size makes it perfect for everyday wear and a great option for the modern bride. It is a perfect mix of traditional and millennial, we say.
Price on request
These are just a few Thali designs that we think are perfect for the modern-day bride. You can always ask for customisations and personal touches that resonate with your taste. The thali is a beautiful ornament, and even if you tweak the design, its significance does not change at all. So, chill and find that perfect Thali design for yourself. Make sure you find the right one because it will be one of your most prized possessions.
