Varmala
The exchange of flower garlands between bride and groom at a Hindu wedding; also the garland itself.
Also: jaimala, jayamala
In the varmala, or jaimala, the bride and groom each place a garland round the other's neck. It signals that they accept one another, and it is one of the first rites of the ceremony. The custom is old and appears in the epics, where a princess chooses her husband by garlanding him. Wedding garlands are thick and heavy, made of roses, tuberose, jasmine, marigolds or orchids, and regional styles differ widely in colour and shape.