Sindūra and maṅgalasūtra
The groom applies sindūra (vermilion) in the parting of the bride's hair and ties the maṅgalasūtra, a necklace of black beads and gold, around her neck. These are signs of a married woman in many communities.
Customs differ: in much of South India, tying the maṅgalasūtra or tāḷi is the central moment of the wedding; in Bengal, sindūr-dān and the shell and red bangles (śaṅkhā-polā) are key. Some brides today wear these daily, some only on special occasions — a personal choice.