A Hindi or Marathi wedding card borrows a handful of formal Sanskrit words that most of us only ever read on wedding cards. Each one marks a group of people: who is inviting you, who will welcome you, and who is hoping to see you there.
The meanings are fixed. Whose names go under each heading varies from family to family and region to region, so treat the "who goes here" notes below as the common practice, not a rule.
Darshanabhilashi (दर्शनाभिलाषी)
Meaning: "those who long to see you". It joins darshan (दर्शन, seeing, a meeting) and abhilashi (अभिलाषी, one who wishes for something).
In English: "Eagerly awaiting your presence" or "Looking forward to seeing you".
Whose names go here: the wider family. Usually brothers, sisters, cousins, uncles and aunts, and their children. In many families it is where the younger generation's names go, while the elders sign as vineet or swagatakankshi. Some cards list whole households: "समस्त शर्मा परिवार" (the entire Sharma family).
दर्शनाभिलाषी का मतलब है "आपके दर्शन की अभिलाषा रखने वाले", यानी वे लोग जो शादी में आपसे मिलने की राह देख रहे हैं। इसमें आमतौर पर परिवार के भाई-बहन, चाचा-चाची, मामा-मामी और बच्चों के नाम लिखे जाते हैं।
Swagatakankshi (स्वागताकांक्षी)
Meaning: "those who wish to welcome you". From swagat (स्वागत, welcome) and akankshi (आकांक्षी, one who desires). It is often misspelt स्वागतकांक्षी, without the ā, which is how many people search for it.
In English: "Awaiting to welcome you" or "Waiting to receive you".
Whose names go here: the people who will stand at the entrance and receive guests. That is usually the parents' generation and close family: the father's brothers, the mother's brothers, sometimes close family friends.
The difference from darshanabhilashi is small but real. Swagatakankshi are the hosts at the door; darshanabhilashi are the family hoping to meet you inside.
Vineet / Vinit (विनीत)
Meaning: "humbly", or "the humble one". It is the signature of the person sending the invitation.
Whose name goes here: the head of the family who is issuing the invitation, usually the grandfather or the father of the bride or groom. On some cards both parents sign: "विनीत: श्रीमती एवं श्री राजेश शर्मा".
On English cards vineet is often left in Hindi, or written as "Vineet" in Roman letters. "With humble regards" or simply the host's name with "Yours sincerely" carries the same idea.
Other words you will see
| Word | Script | Meaning | Where it appears |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nivedak | निवेदक | The one who requests | Like vineet: the host's signature |
| Chiranjeev / Chi. | चिरंजीव / चि. | "May he live long" | Before the groom's name |
| Ayushman | आयुष्मान | "Blessed with long life" | Before the groom's name |
| Ayushmati / Sau. Ka. | आयुष्मती / सौ. कां. | Blessing for the bride | Before the bride's name (सौ. कां., saubhagyakankshini, is the Marathi form) |
| Chi. La. Sow. | — | Chiranjeevi Lakshmi Saubhagyavati | The bride's title on Telugu and Kannada cards |
| Swargiya / Late | स्वर्गीय / स्व. | The late | Before an elder who has passed away, so they are still named |
| Saparivar | सपरिवार | With your family | "You are invited with your family" |
| Panigrahan | पाणिग्रहण | Taking the hand: the wedding ritual | The ceremony line in the schedule |
| Preetibhoj | प्रीतिभोज | The wedding feast | The dinner line in the schedule |
| Bal manuhar / bal aagrah | बाल मनुहार / बाल आग्रह | The children's request | A playful verse "from" the young cousins. See bal aagrah lines |
English card terms
Solicit: to ask for. "We solicit your gracious presence" means "we request that you come". It is old-fashioned and correct; "We request the pleasure of your company" says the same in plainer English.
Save the date: "keep this date free". It is a notice sent weeks or months before the invitation, so guests can plan travel. In Hindi: "इस तारीख़ को खाली रखें". In Marathi: "ही तारीख राखून ठेवा".
RSVP: please reply. See RSVP meaning.
WBCF / With best compliments from: names of relatives or friends who join in the invitation. See WBCF full form.
How they sit on a card
A common order on a Hindi card, top to bottom:
- Invocation: ॥ श्री गणेशाय नमः ॥
- The invitation, with chiranjeev before the groom and ayushmati before the bride
- The schedule of functions
- Vineet: the host
- Swagatakankshi: close family who will receive guests
- Darshanabhilashi: the wider family
- Bal manuhar, the children's lines
- RSVP, with phone numbers
Not every card uses all of them. Many modern cards keep only vineet and RSVP. That is a perfectly good card, and easier to read.
For full sample text, see wedding card matter in Hindi and Marathi lagna patrika wording.