Telugu Wedding Invitation: Shubhalekha Wording and Functions

In Telugu homes the wedding card is the శుభలేఖ (shubhalekha), the auspicious letter. Turmeric is touched to its corners before it is given, and the first one goes to the family deity, often Lord Venkateswara. The card leads every guest to one moment: the muhurtham, when jeelakarra bellam, a paste of cumin and jaggery, is placed on each other's heads. Here is how to word it.

The order of a Telugu shubhalekha

1. The invocation. "శ్రీ" at the top, often with the family deity, for example "శ్రీ వేంకటేశ్వర స్వామి వారి కృపతో" (by the grace of Lord Venkateswara).

2. The invitation from the parents, often in the grandparents' names as well.

3. The couple, with "చి." (Chiranjeevi) before the groom's name and "చి. ల. సౌ." (Chiranjeevi Lakshmi Sowbhagyavathi) before the bride's, and both sets of parents.

4. The muhurtham: the Telugu date (month, tithi), the English date and the exact time, for example "రాత్రి 10:21 గంటలకు" (10:21 pm).

5. The venue, the kalyana mandapam.

6. The other functions, each with its own time.

7. The family names and contact numbers.

The invitation wording

The set closing line, in Roman letters:

It means "We request you to come with your whole family and bless the bride and groom." Ask an elder or your printer to write it in Telugu script.

For relatives who read Hindi:

The functions to list

• Nischitartham: the engagement, where the elders fix the match and the muhurtham.
• Pellikuthuru and Pellikoduku: the bride and groom are bathed with turmeric and oil and dressed for the wedding at their homes, with songs.
• Snathakam: the groom's ceremony before he becomes a householder.
• Kashi Yatra: the groom sets out for Kashi and the bride's brother brings him back.
• Edurukolu: the two families welcome each other.
• Kanyadaanam and Jeelakarra Bellam: the giving away, and at the muhurtham the cumin and jaggery placed on each other's heads, with a curtain between them until that moment. This is the main time on the card.
• Mangalya Dharanam: the groom ties the mangalsutram.
• Talambralu: the couple shower each other with turmeric rice, the most joyful part for guests.
• Saptapadi and Arundhati Nakshatram: the seven steps and the sighting of the Arundhati star.
• Appagintalu: the bride's parents entrust her to the groom's family.
• Reception, often the next day or the evening before.

The muhurtham and the night

Telugu muhurthams are frequently late at night or at dawn. Write the time exactly as the priest gives it, then add a dinner time and the time guests should arrive. If the muhurtham is after midnight, write the date carefully: a muhurtham at 1:30 am on the night of the 20th is on the 21st by the calendar, and some guests will be confused. Many families write "night of Saturday 20 February (1:30 am)".

Sending it on WhatsApp

Design that suits a Telugu wedding

Pochampally ikat, Kalamkari and Cheriyal patterns, temple bells, coconut and mango leaves, turmeric and kumkum, and the gold of Lord Venkateswara all suit a Telugu invitation. Keep the muhurtham large and clear on a phone. You can type your wording into any of our wedding invitation designs, or begin with a free card with name editing. For the Hindi formats, see wedding card matter in Hindi.