Half saree function invitation: what to write in English, Telugu and Tamil, and how to send it
Half saree function invitation wording (Langa Voni, Manjal Neerattu Vizha) in English, Telugu and Tamil: who does what, the order of the day, WhatsApp lines.
A half saree function invitation comes from the girl's parents: her name, the ceremony as your family calls it, the muhurtham, the venue with a map and the meal, and a request to come with family and bless her. Telugu families call it the Langa Voni or Onila Veduka, Tamil families the Manjal Neerattu Vizha. Name the maternal uncle if he presents her clothes, and leave off anything she would rather keep private.
On this page
The half saree function is a South Indian girl's coming-of-age celebration. She wears a silk half saree, often a gift from her mother's family, and the elders bless her. In many families she also wears her first saree that day.
Telugu families call it the Langa Voni function or Onila Veduka (ఓణీల వేడుక), Tamil families hold it as the Manjal Neerattu Vizha (மஞ்சள் நீராட்டு விழா), and in Kannada the dress is the Langa Davani. The invitation is simpler than a wedding's: one family, one girl, one muhurtham. This page covers who does what, what to put on the invitation and what to leave off, how to keep it small, and wording in English, Telugu and Tamil.
What the function is
The half saree sits between two other garments. As a child a girl wears the langa or pavadai, a long silk skirt; as a teenager the half saree, a skirt and blouse with a voni or dhavani draped across; and as a woman the saree. The function marks the move to the middle one, and in many families it ends with her first saree.
Traditionally it follows a girl's first period, and its Sanskrit name is Ritu Kala Samskaram. The family then fixes the day by a muhurtham. It normally takes place at home, though some families hold it in a hall, with an invitation that goes to every relative.
Who does what
- Her parents invite. The invitation comes from them, often with the grandparents named as blessing it.
- Her mother's family brings the clothes. In many families her maternal uncle, the menamama (మేనమామ) in Telugu and the thai maman (தாய் மாமன்) in Tamil, presents her silk half saree or her first saree, sometimes with jewellery and bangles; in others it comes from the maternal grandparents. Families differ, so ask your elders, and name him on the invitation if he has that part.
- She wears two outfits in many families. The half saree in the first part of the ceremony, and her first saree in the second.
- Relatives come to bless her. They usually bring a gift and stay for the meal.
What to put on the invitation
- Her name, with the honorific your family uses. Tamil cards often write Thiruniraichelvi (திருநிறைச்செல்வி) before it.
- The ceremony's name, as your family says it: Half Saree Function, Langa Voni, Onila Veduka or Manjal Neerattu Vizha.
- The day, the date and the muhurtham. Many Tamil cards give the Tamil year, month and date beside the English date.
- The venue, with a map pin of the gate or the hall guests should come to.
- The meal. A morning muhurtham usually ends in lunch. Say so, and guests will not eat before they come.
- The maternal uncle's line, if he is presenting her half saree or her first saree.
- One or two numbers for relatives with questions.
The order of the day
Every family has its own order, and the elders will know yours. A common shape for a morning function:
- The pujaAt the muhurtham, usually led by a priest, with her parents beside her.
- The half sareeShe is dressed in the half saree from her mother's side.
- Aarti and blessingsMarried women of the family perform the aarti, and the elders bless her with akshata, rice mixed with turmeric.
- Her first sareeIn many families she changes into her first saree for the second part, given by her maternal uncle or by her father's side.
- Gifts and the mealGuests bless her, give their gifts and stay for lunch.
A family function at home, or a celebration in a hall
| At home, with family | A celebration in a hall | |
|---|---|---|
| Guests | Grandparents, uncles, aunts, cousins | Relatives, family friends, neighbours, her own friends |
| Sent how | A call and a WhatsApp message | An invitation with the muhurtham, a map and replies |
| Photographs | Family phones, if she agrees | Often a photographer; agree with her what is shared |
| The meal | Lunch at home | A meal at the hall, which needs a headcount |
Both are normal, and some families do both: a puja at home for the closest family and a meal for everyone later. Whichever you choose, word the invitation for the people who are actually coming.
When to send it
Call the elders and the maternal uncle's family first, then send the invitation: two to three weeks ahead for relatives in town, a month or more for those who will travel. Send a short reminder the day before with the muhurtham and the map, because guests plan their morning around it.
A half saree invitation as a link
We have no half saree design of our own. Our South Indian wedding designs show the style we work in: Pattu, built on a Kanjeevaram silk border with zari gold, and Dakshin, in temple gold and kumkum red. For a half saree function we would make it as a custom invitation, with the muhurtham, the venue on a map, her photographs if she wants them and a reply form for the meal, in English, Telugu or Tamil, quoted on WhatsApp before you pay.
For a boy's coming-of-age ceremony, the Upanayanam guide has wording of its own, and the Telugu and Tamil wedding guides explain the invitation conventions of each language.
Half saree function wording you can copy
English first, then Telugu and Tamil. Change the names, dates, times and venue in [brackets], and have an elder who reads the language check the final card.
Sri Ganeshaya Namaha
With the blessings of our elders,
[Father's name] and [Mother's name]
request the pleasure of your company at the Half Saree Ceremony of our daughter
[Name]
[Day, Date] · Muhurtham at [Time]
[Venue], [City]
Lunch will be served.
Your blessings are all we ask.
Sri Ganeshaya Namaha
[Father's name] and [Mother's name] invite you to the Langa Voni ceremony of their daughter
[Name]
[Day, Date] · Muhurtham at [Time]
[Venue]
Her half saree will be presented by her maternal uncle, [Uncle's name], and family.
Lunch follows the ceremony.
Our little girl is all grown up.
Please join us for [Name]'s half saree function.
[Day, Date] · [Time]
[Venue]
Come bless her, and stay for lunch.
Just the family, at home.
[Name] wears her first half saree on [Day, Date].
Puja at [Time], lunch after.
[Area], map: [link]
We would love you there.
Hello [Name],
We are celebrating [Daughter's name]'s half saree function on [Day, Date], and we would love you and your family to come and bless her.
The time, the venue and the map: [link]
[Your name]
శ్రీరస్తు శుభమస్తు అవిఘ్నమస్తు
మా అమ్మాయి [పేరు] ఓణీల వేడుక
[తేదీ], [వారం] ఉదయం [సమయం] గం||లకు
వేదిక: [వేదిక], [ఊరు]
తమరు సకుటుంబ సపరివార సమేతంగా విచ్చేసి, మా అమ్మాయిని ఆశీర్వదించవలసిందిగా ప్రార్థన.
ఇట్లు,
[తల్లిదండ్రుల పేర్లు]
శ్రీరస్తు శుభమస్తు అవిఘ్నమస్తు
మా అమ్మాయి [పేరు] ఓణీల వేడుక
[తేదీ], [వారం] ఉదయం [సమయం] గం||లకు
వేదిక: [వేదిక], [ఊరు]
మేనమామ [పేరు] గారు లంగా ఓణీ అందజేస్తారు.
తమరు సకుటుంబ సపరివార సమేతంగా విచ్చేసి, మా అమ్మాయిని ఆశీర్వదించవలసిందిగా ప్రార్థన.
ఇట్లు,
[తల్లిదండ్రుల పేర్లు]
నమస్కారం!
మా అమ్మాయి [పేరు] ఓణీల వేడుక [తేదీ]న జరుగుతుంది. మీరు కుటుంబంతో తప్పకుండా రండి.
సమయం, వేదిక, మ్యాప్ ఈ లింకులో ఉన్నాయి: [లింక్]
[పేరు]
அன்புடையீர்,
நிகழும் மங்களகரமான [தமிழ் ஆண்டு] வருடம் [மாதம்] மாதம் [நாள்] ஆம் தேதி ([தேதி]) [கிழமை] காலை [நேரம்] மணிக்கு மேல், எமது திருநிறைச்செல்வி [பெயர்] அவர்களுக்கு மஞ்சள் நீராட்டு விழா நடத்த பெரியோர்கள் நிச்சயித்த வண்ணம், அத்தருணம் தாங்கள் தங்கள் குடும்ப சமேதராக வருகை புரிந்து, செல்வியை ஆசீர்வதித்து விழாவினை சிறப்பிக்க அன்புடன் அழைக்கின்றோம்.
இடம்: [மண்டபம்], [ஊர்]
இங்ஙனம் தங்கள் நல்வரவை நாடும்,
[பெற்றோர் பெயர்கள்]
அன்புடையீர்,
எமது திருநிறைச்செல்வி [பெயர்] அவர்களின் மஞ்சள் நீராட்டு விழா
[தேதி], [கிழமை] · காலை [நேரம்] மணி
இடம்: [மண்டபம்], [ஊர்]
தாய் மாமன்: [பெயர்கள்]
தாங்கள் குடும்பத்துடன் வந்திருந்து செல்வியை ஆசீர்வதிக்க அன்புடன் அழைக்கின்றோம்.
[பெற்றோர் பெயர்கள்]
வணக்கம்!
எங்கள் மகள் [பெயர்] அவர்களின் மஞ்சள் நீராட்டு விழா [தேதி] அன்று நடைபெறுகிறது. குடும்பத்துடன் வந்து ஆசீர்வதிக்க அன்புடன் அழைக்கிறோம்.
நேரம், இடம், வரைபடம் இந்த இணைப்பில்: [இணைப்பு]
[பெயர்]
Tomorrow is [Name]'s half saree function.
The muhurtham is at [Time], so please come by [Time].
Map: [link]
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South Indian wedding invitation designs
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Questions people ask
What is a half saree function?
A South Indian coming-of-age celebration for a girl: she wears a silk half saree, and in many families her first saree, and the elders bless her. Telugu families call it the Langa Voni function or Onila Veduka, Tamil families hold it as the Manjal Neerattu Vizha, and its Sanskrit name is Ritu Kala Samskaram.
Who gives the half saree?
Usually her mother's side. In many families her maternal uncle, the menamama or thai maman, presents the half saree or her first saree; in others the maternal grandparents give the half saree and the father's side the first saree. Ask your elders which your family follows.
What should a half saree function invitation say?
Her parents' names, her name, the ceremony as your family calls it, the day, the muhurtham, the venue with a map, and whether lunch follows. Close by asking guests to come with their families and bless her, and name her maternal uncle if he presents her clothes.
How do I write a half saree invitation in Telugu?
Open with శ్రీరస్తు శుభమస్తు అవిఘ్నమస్తు, write మా అమ్మాయి [పేరు] ఓణీల వేడుక with the date, the time and the venue, and close with తమరు సకుటుంబ సపరివార సమేతంగా విచ్చేసి, మా అమ్మాయిని ఆశీర్వదించవలసిందిగా ప్రార్థన and ఇట్లు above the parents' names.
What is the Tamil wording for a Manjal Neerattu Vizha invitation?
Tamil cards open with அன்புடையீர், name the girl as திருநிறைச்செல்வி [name], give the Tamil and English dates with the time, and invite guests to come with their families and bless her: தாங்கள் குடும்பத்துடன் வந்திருந்து செல்வியை ஆசீர்வதிக்க அன்புடன் அழைக்கின்றோம். Full versions are on this page.
When should the invitation be sent?
Call the elders and the maternal uncle's family first. Then send it two to three weeks ahead to relatives in town and a month or more ahead to those who will travel, with a reminder the day before.
Can we keep the function small?
Yes. It traditionally takes place at home, and it can be kept to grandparents, uncles, aunts and cousins. Ask your daughter how public she wants it to be, and let her choose any photograph that goes on the invitation.
