A Tamil wedding invitation, the kalyana pathirikai or thirumana azhaippithazh, has a fairly fixed order: an invocation at the top, the Tamil calendar date with the muhurtham window, both families and the couple with the right honorifics, the venue, the other functions, and a closing line asking guests to come with family and bless the couple. Most families now print it bilingually, Tamil for elders and English for friends, colleagues and relatives who do not read Tamil, and send a digital version on WhatsApp.
This guide gives you the card order, an honorific table, a "date line builder" so the Tamil date, English date, weekday and lagnam agree, eight templates in Tamil and English (including a reception-only card for weddings held elsewhere), WhatsApp lines, and a proofing checklist. Tamil practice varies by community and family, so treat every line here as a draft to read out to an elder before printing.
Why this is on everyone's mind this week
Tamil wedding invitations are in the news because of one very visible reception card. On 16 October 2026, the Telangana Chief Minister's Office posted on X that Sun Group chairman Kalanithi Maran and Kavery Maran had invited the Chief Minister to the wedding reception of their daughter Kavya Maran and music composer Anirudh Ravichander, "scheduled to be held in Chennai on November 21", as reported by India Today and The Economic Times on 17 October. Both families have been personally visiting guests with the invitation. Mint and The Economic Times also noted reports of a ceremony in Greece on 11 November, which the couple had not confirmed.
You do not need a celebrity guest list for the same questions to come up at home. How do you word a card when the main ceremony happens in one place and the reception in Chennai? Which honorific goes before the bride's name? And how do you write the muhurtham so that elders, office friends and the NRI cousin in Singapore all read the same time? That is what this guide covers.
The kalyana pathirikai order at a glance
| Line | Tamil example | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Invocation | ஸ்ரீ விநாயகர் துணை / முருகன் துணை / குலதெய்வம் துணை | Seeks blessings; reflects the family's deity or tradition |
| 2. Date line | நிகழும் மங்களகரமான பராபவ வருடம் ... | Tamil year, month, date, weekday, star, muhurtham window, lagnam |
| 3. Families and couple | திரு. ... - திருமதி. ... தம்பதியரின் அன்பு மகள் ... | Parents as hosts, the couple with honorifics |
| 4. Venue | மண்டபம், முகவரி | Full name and area of the mandapam, temple or hall |
| 5. Request line | சுற்றமும் நட்பும் சூழ வருகை தந்து மணமக்களை வாழ்த்துமாறு ... | Asks guests to come with family and bless the couple |
| 6. Other functions | நிச்சயதார்த்தம், மாப்பிள்ளை அழைப்பு, வரவேற்பு | Each with date, time and venue |
| 7. Sign-off | தங்கள் நல்வரவை நாடும் / அன்புடன் அழைக்கும் / இங்ஙனம் | Names of the inviting family members |
| 8. Contact or link | Phone number, QR or website link | Common on modern and digital cards |
Honorifics and family words
Use of these terms differs between communities and between Brahmin and non-Brahmin families. When in doubt, look at two or three recent cards from your own family.
| Term | Tamil | Used for | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thiru. | திரு. | Men, usually fathers and male hosts | Equivalent of Mr. |
| Thirumathi | திருமதி. | Married women, usually mothers | Equivalent of Mrs. |
| Selvan / Selvi | செல்வன் / செல்வி | Groom / bride | Simple, widely used |
| Thiruniraichelvan / Thiruniraichelvi | திருநிறைச்செல்வன் / திருநிறைச்செல்வி | Groom / bride | A more formal, celebratory form seen on many cards |
| Chi. (Chiranjeevi) | சி. | Groom | Common on Sanskritised and many Brahmin cards |
| Sow. (Sowbhagyavathi) | சௌ. | Bride | Some families use the longer Chi. La. Sow. form; ask your elders |
| Thampathiyarin | தம்பதியரின் | "of the couple" (the parents) | "Thiru. X - Thirumathi. Y thampathiyarin anbu magal" |
| Anbu magal / anbu magan | அன்பு மகள் / அன்பு மகன் | Beloved daughter / son | Some cards use புதல்வி / புதல்வன் |
| Pethi / peran | பேத்தி / பேரன் | Granddaughter / grandson | Used when grandparents are named |
| Late | அமரர் / காலஞ்சென்ற | Before the name of a parent or grandparent who has passed | Families differ; use the form your family has used before |
Many Tamil cards print degrees after the couple's names (for example B.E., M.B.A.). It is optional. If one side prints degrees, agree with the other side so both names are treated the same way.
The date line builder
The date line is where most printing errors happen, because it combines the Tamil calendar, the English calendar and the muhurtham. Fill it from the panchangam your family priest or josiyar uses, then check every element against the English date.
| Element | Tamil | Example for Friday 20 November 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Opening | நிகழும் மங்களகரமான | Fixed phrase |
| Tamil year | பராபவ வருடம் | Parabhava year, which began on Chithirai 1 (14 April 2026) and runs until mid-April 2027 |
| Tamil month and date | கார்த்திகை மாதம் 4-ஆம் தேதி | Karthigai 4 (Golden Chennai's calendar lists 20 November 2026 as Karthigai 4) |
| English date | (20-11-2026) | Always add it in brackets |
| Weekday | வெள்ளிக்கிழமை | Friday |
| Star and tithi | [நட்சத்திரம்] நட்சத்திரம், [திதி] | From your josiyar; do not copy from a website |
| Window | காலை [7.30] மணிக்கு மேல் [9.00] மணிக்குள் | "After ... and before ..." |
| Lagnam | [லக்னம்] லக்னத்தில் | From your josiyar |
Two quick checks: the Tamil year name changes every April, so do not reuse an old template without updating it; and the weekday in Tamil must match the English date. A mismatch between the two dates is the single most common correction families ask printers to make.
Muhurtham dates in the coming season (for orientation only)
Popular Tamil calendar sites list different sets of dates. Golden Chennai and TamilMarriageBiodata, both checked on 19 October 2026, agree on these Aippasi and Karthigai dates: 25 and 30 October; 1, 11, 15, 16, 20 and 29 November; and 13 and 14 December 2026. Each site also lists dates the other does not (for example 13 November and 4, 6 and 10 December appear on TamilMarriageBiodata but not on Golden Chennai's list, while Golden Chennai lists 18 November). Margazhi, from mid-December, is widely avoided for weddings. Your family josiyar's choice, based on both horoscopes, is what goes on the card.
Templates you can adapt
Replace every bracket. Read the Tamil aloud to an elder before you send it to the printer.
Template 1: Traditional Tamil card (bride's family hosting)
ஸ்ரீ விநாயகர் துணை
நிகழும் மங்களகரமான பராபவ வருடம் [மாதம்] மாதம் [தேதி]-ஆம் தேதி ([DD-MM-YYYY]) [கிழமை], [நட்சத்திரம்] நட்சத்திரம் கூடிய சுபயோக சுபதினத்தில், காலை [நேரம்] மணிக்கு மேல் [நேரம்] மணிக்குள் [லக்னம்] லக்னத்தில்,
திரு. [தந்தை பெயர்] - திருமதி. [தாய் பெயர்] தம்பதியரின் அன்பு மகள் திருநிறைச்செல்வி [மணமகள் பெயர்] அவர்களுக்கும்,
திரு. [தந்தை பெயர்] - திருமதி. [தாய் பெயர்] தம்பதியரின் அன்பு மகன் திருநிறைச்செல்வன் [மணமகன் பெயர்] அவர்களுக்கும்,
[மண்டபம் பெயர், முகவரி]-இல் திருமணம் நடைபெற இறைவன் திருவருள் கூடியுள்ளது.
தாங்கள் தங்கள் சுற்றமும் நட்பும் சூழ வருகை தந்து மணமக்களை வாழ்த்தியருளுமாறு அன்புடன் அழைக்கிறோம்.
தங்கள் நல்வரவை நாடும், [குடும்பத்தினர் பெயர்கள்]
For the groom's family card, swap the order so the groom and his parents come first. Many families print two versions, one for each side's guests.
Template 2: English side of the same card
With the blessings of Lord Vinayaka
Mr. [Father's name] and Mrs. [Mother's name] request the pleasure of your company with family at the wedding of their daughter [Bride's name] with [Groom's name] son of Mr. [Father's name] and Mrs. [Mother's name]
Muhurtham: between [time] and [time] on [Day], [Date] [Month] 2026 ([Tamil month] [date], Parabhava year) [Mandapam name, area, city]
Your presence and blessings will mean a great deal to us. With warm regards, [family names]
Keep the English muhurtham window identical to the Tamil one. If you translate "between 7.30 and 9.00", do not round it to "9 am" on the English side.
Template 3: Brahmin-style short card (Tamil)
ஸ்ரீ [இஷ்ட தெய்வம்] துணை
சி. [மணமகன் பெயர்] - சௌ. [மணமகள் பெயர்] திருமணம்
[கிழமை], [DD-MM-YYYY], காலை [நேரம்] முதல் [நேரம்] வரை இடம்: [மண்டபம், முகவரி]
ஜானவாசம்: [தேதி], மாலை [நேரம்] தங்கள் வருகையை அன்புடன் எதிர்நோக்கும், [குடும்பத்தினர் பெயர்கள்]
Brahmin families often use their own invocation (for example an Iyengar family's preferred line). Use what your family has used before.
Template 4: Modern couple-hosted card (English with Tamil words kept)
Together with our families, [Bride's name] and [Groom's name] invite you to our kalyanam
Muhurtham: [time] to [time], [Day], [Date] [Venue, city] Reception (varaverpu): [Day], [Date], from [time], [Venue]
Come hungry, come early for the muhurtham, and bring your blessings.
Keeping "kalyanam" and "muhurtham" tells Tamil guests the ceremony is ritual-timed and morning-focused, which a plain "wedding ceremony" does not.
Template 5: Reception-only card when the wedding happens elsewhere
This is the format families use when the wedding is held at a temple, in another town, abroad, or as a small family ceremony, followed by a larger reception at home.
Tamil:
[தேதி] அன்று [இடம்]-இல் எங்கள் அன்பு மகள் [மணமகள் பெயர்] - [மணமகன் பெயர்] திருமணம் குடும்பத்தினர் முன்னிலையில் நடைபெறவுள்ளது. அதனைத் தொடர்ந்து [நகரம்]-இல் நடைபெறும் திருமண வரவேற்பு நிகழ்ச்சிக்குத் தாங்கள் குடும்பத்துடன் வருகை தந்து மணமக்களை வாழ்த்த அன்புடன் அழைக்கிறோம்.
வரவேற்பு: [கிழமை], [DD-MM-YYYY], மாலை [நேரம்] முதல் இடம்: [ஹோட்டல் / மண்டபம், முகவரி]
English:
Following their wedding in the presence of family at [place] on [date], [hosts] invite you to the wedding reception of [Bride] and [Groom] on [Day], [Date], from [time] at [venue, city].
If the ceremony has already happened by the time the card is sent, change "நடைபெறவுள்ளது" (will take place) to "இனிதே நடைபெற்றது" (took place happily), and "Following their wedding" stays the same. Our guide to reception-only wedding invitation wording has more host variations in English.
Template 6: Nichayathartham card (short)
Tamil: எங்கள் அன்பு மகள் [பெயர்] - [பெயர்] நிச்சயதார்த்தம் [கிழமை], [DD-MM-YYYY] அன்று மாலை [நேரம்] மணிக்கு [இடம்]-இல் நடைபெறவுள்ளது. தாங்கள் குடும்பத்துடன் வருகை தந்து வாழ்த்த அன்புடன் அழைக்கிறோம்.
English: We warmly invite you and your family to the nichayathartham of [names] on [Day], [Date] at [time], at [venue].
Template 7: WhatsApp message to send with the digital card
Tamil: வணக்கம்! எங்கள் மகன் [பெயர்] - [பெயர்] திருமணம் [தேதி] அன்று [இடம்]-இல் நடைபெறவுள்ளது. அழைப்பிதழை இணைத்துள்ளோம். நேரம், இடம், வரைபடம் இந்த இணைப்பில் உள்ளன: [link]. தாங்கள் குடும்பத்துடன் வந்து மணமக்களை வாழ்த்த வேண்டுகிறோம்.
Tanglish (for younger relatives): Vanakkam! [Name] - [Name] kalyanam [date] anniku [place]-la. Invitation attach panniyirukkom; time, venue map ellam indha link-la irukku: [link]. Kudumbathoda vandhu vazhthunga!
English: Vanakkam! We would love you to join us for [names]' wedding on [date] in [city]. The invitation is attached, and the timings, venue map and reception details are on this link: [link].
For elders, a phone call or a visit with the printed card usually comes first, and the WhatsApp message follows as a reminder with the map.
Template 8: A time-zone line for relatives abroad
"Muhurtham: 7.30 to 9.00 am IST on Friday, 20 November (that is 10.00 to 11.30 am in Singapore, and 2.00 to 3.30 am on 20 November in London)."
Add this to the digital card or website, not the printed card. Double-check conversions after the clocks change in Europe and North America in late October and early November.
Function names guests may see on the card
| Function | Tamil | Who usually attends | What to print |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engagement | நிச்சயதார்த்தம் | Close family and friends | Date, time, venue; often a separate card |
| Muhurthakkal | முகூர்த்தக்கால் | Immediate family | Usually not on the main card |
| Groom's welcome | மாப்பிள்ளை அழைப்பு | Family and close guests | Evening before; time and venue |
| Janavasam | ஜானவாசம் | Family and guests, in many Brahmin weddings | Evening before; procession time |
| Wedding | திருமணம் / முகூர்த்தம் | All invited guests | The muhurtham window, not just a start time |
| Reception | திருமண வரவேற்பு | Extended guest list, colleagues | Date, time, venue; dress note if any |
If guests from other communities are coming, one line on the website explaining that the thaali is tied at the muhurtham and that the main ritual happens early in the morning helps them arrive on time.
Print and digital: what goes where
| Detail | Printed card | Digital card / website |
|---|---|---|
| Invocation, date line, families, venue | Yes | Yes |
| Muhurtham window in Tamil and English | Yes | Yes, plus time zones |
| All functions with venues | Main ones | All, with maps |
| Parking, drop-off and landmarks | One line | Full notes |
| RSVP | Optional | Yes, per function |
| Contact numbers | One or two | Named family contacts |
Tamil text on digital cards sometimes breaks into boxes on older phones if it is set in an unusual font. Test the PDF on two or three different phones, and keep the key details (date, time, venue, link) as real text on your wedding website or guest page, not only inside an image. If you use a wedding website, a Tamil-English toggle or a simple bilingual page lets elders and friends read the same details.
Proofreading checklist
- [ ] Invocation matches the family's deity or tradition
- [ ] Tamil year is Parabhava for dates up to mid-April 2027
- [ ] Tamil month and date match the English date, and the weekday matches both
- [ ] Muhurtham window and lagnam are copied exactly from the josiyar's note
- [ ] English side uses the same window, not a rounded time
- [ ] Honorifics are consistent on both sides (Selvan/Selvi, Thiruniraichelvan/Thiruniraichelvi or Chi./Sow.)
- [ ] Late relatives are marked the way your family prefers
- [ ] Degrees are either on both names or neither
- [ ] Mandapam name and address are copied from its official card or letterhead
- [ ] Reception and other functions have their own dates, times and venues
- [ ] Tamil read aloud by one elder; English read by someone who has not seen the draft
- [ ] Digital version tested on more than one phone
FAQ
What is the difference between kalyana pathirikai and thirumana azhaippithazh? Both mean a wedding invitation. "Pathirikai" is the everyday word many families use; "thirumana azhaippithazh" is the formal Tamil term often printed on the card.
Should the bride be Selvi, Thiruniraichelvi or Sow.? It depends on your community and family. Selvi and Thiruniraichelvi are common on many cards; Sow. (and Chi. La. Sow.) is common in many Brahmin families. Follow the form used on recent cards in your own family.
Do I need the Tamil date as well as the English date? For a traditional card, yes. Elders read the Tamil date and muhurtham first. Always add the English date in brackets so everyone else can plan.
Can I print only an English card? You can, especially for a reception-only card or a colleague list. Many families still keep the invocation and the word "muhurtham" so the card feels like a Tamil wedding.
How early should Tamil wedding cards go out? For Aippasi and Karthigai dates this season, families usually finalise wording soon after the dates are fixed and send printed cards to elders first, with digital versions following. Give outstation guests enough notice to book trains and flights.