The Romance And Ritual Of A Varmala

If there's one symbol that instantly brings Indian weddings to mind, it's the varmala. The floral garland holds a lot of significance in Indian culture. The ceremony of the bride and groom exchanging a varmala before getting married holds deep, sentimental value and meaning. In most cases the ritual takes place after the groom’s mother-in-law welcomes him by performing an aarti and welcoming the groom with a tilak.

But there are many other details surrounding the ceremony and significance of the floral garland we’ve dug deeper in to find out more. Read on…

Everything To Know About The Varmala Ceremony

Varmalas in history

The varmala is a floral garland that the bride and groom exchange as they meet each other before the seven pheras as a way to accept each other in their respective lives.

It also symbolises greeting your partner, welcoming each other (both literally and metaphorically) and honouring each other before both of you decide to enter a union such as marriage. In ancient times, the tradition translated to a similar sentiment, except back then as many people would meet or see each other directly at the wedding (after a long time), exchanging the varmala held a different kind of excitement.

Varmalas have been mentioned in the Ramayana, specifically when Sita accepted Ram as her lifelong partner and their union after he broke the pinaka bow at her svayamvara. Or in the Mahabharata, when Draupadi chose Arjun as her lifelong partner at her svayamvara. And, in the Vishnu Purana, when Lakshmi welcomed Vishnu after he returned from Samudra Manthanam with lotus flower garlands.

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Varmalas Around The World

Floral garlands have been used in different parts of the world throughout history, For instance, Ancient Egyptians used garlands to pay respect to those who passed away. But, the floral accessory has always held major importance in Asian countries. The Thai culture has the phuang malai or the malai song chai and the Hawaiian culture has lei – one which is used in ceremonies, the other, which is used as a welcoming accessory, respectively.

In Nepal, flowers and garlands are used in worship and festivals such as Tihar and Bisket Jatra. And among the Hindu and Sinhala Buddhist population of Srilanka, garlands are a prominent part of weddings, symbolising union, love and respect.

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Varmalas in India

Over time, we’ve observed flowers such as marigolds and jasmines being used in varmalas. Several cultures within the Indian subcontinent are known to use the flower garland in different ways. For instance in Manipur, a prerequisite of the wedding ceremony is a ritual where the bride weaves two garlands (for herself and the groom), in the presence of a priest while he chants sacred prayers for their life ahead. In the Bengali culture, as the bride is seated on the wooden stool before the pheras with the groom, the mala bodol tradition takes place where garlands made of rajnigandha or roses/orchids are exchanged thrice to emphasize commitment and acceptance by both the bride and the groom.

But floral malas are not only exchanged between the bride and groom, during Indian weddings. In many communities, parents of the couple adorn them with garlands to welcome them into the family, or congratulate them for their union. For example, in Parsi weddings, the Achu Michu is a welcoming ritual where the parents of the couple apply a tilak on their foreheads. This ceremony may also involve the couple being adorned with garlands and giving them a bouquet and a coconut wrapped in string to ward off the evil eye.

In sikh weddings, A milni haar or a moti mala (a garland made of pearls and beads) is used to welcome baratis at their arrival as a way for both families to accept each other.

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In other, non-wedding related situations, a floral mala is used in so many different ways and almost revered and used as a symbol of prosperity. There are instances of people using garlands to decorate tools or vehicles which they depend on for livelihood, as a way to reenact and honour the worship of weapons in the Ramayana. The floral garland is loved and used as a way to welcome prosperity in many different aspects of life across India.

How Does The Varmala Look Today, In Modern Day And Age

Today, brides and grooms are choosing to get customised varmalas made for their wedding. People are going for flowers and designs that are more experimental, think orchids, materials such as pearls, lotuses, white roses.

If we take a look at iconic celebrities such as Virat Koli and Anushka Sharma – who just FYI, used white and pink, roses for their varmala, or Kiara Advani and Sidharth Malhotra, and Alia Bhatt and Ranbir Kapoor – who decided on ethereal white varmalas for their wedding.

Radhika Merchant and Anant Ambani’s stellar wedding saw something similar, the couple opted for a white varmala as well. So, it seems varmalas have evolved in more ways than one, in the past few years. We are no longer sticking to traditional flowers or designs and exploring how the varmala can be more authentic to the couple’s experience of the wedding.

“Varmalas have transformed from traditional floral garlands into meticulously designed statement pieces that seamlessly complement a couple’s wedding aesthetic. While fresh flowers remain central, there is now a stronger emphasis on structure, intricate craftsmanship, and personalization. Modern varmalas feature fine floral weaving, delicate petal work, and embellishments such as pearls, gota, and metallic accents,” says Srishti Kapur of Floral Art, a floral gifting, wedding jewellery and decor company based in Mumbai.

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“The Ambani wedding set a new benchmark, showcasing varmalas with intricate detailing inspired by Thai floral craftsmanship. The precision in weaving, petal work and layering added an opulent yet sophisticated touch, reinforcing the trend of artisanal, highly customised designs,” she said.

For another example of what the modern varmala looks like, look no further than Prateik Babbar and Priya Banerjee’s wedding that took place in February this year. The couple opted for wonderful mogra bug varmalas intertwined with pearls and with a twist that made for an interesting wedding detail – the garlands were open-ended, and not circular! Babbar and Banerjee’s varmalas gave off a sense of breathability and relaxed allure that made a statement for sure.

Clearly, the Varmala has become a style statement in itself, and open to personalisation. Something all 2025 brides should take note of as they plan their weddings!