Talikettu

Talikettu (literally 'tying of the Thali') is the central ceremony of a Hindu wedding in Kerala. At the auspicious muhurat, the groom ties the Thali around the bride's neck — this act constitutes the marriage.

The ceremony is typically conducted in the presence of family, with the Tantri or Vedic priest overseeing the ritual. In Nair tradition, the Talikettu is followed by the Sadya feast and other celebrations.

Talikettu is paralleled in other communities by the Minnukettu (Syrian Christian) — both involve the groom placing a sacred pendant around the bride's neck as the defining moment of the union.