Timed to exact auspicious hour, is the tying of the Mangala Sutra(Tali). The bride is seated looking eastward and the bridegroom facing westward, ties the gold Mangala Sutra around the neck of the bride. A turmeric thread is also put around the bride's neck. Three knots are tied by the bridegroom. As he does so, the Nadaswaram drums are beaten loud and fast, so as to muffle any inauspicious sound at the critical hour. This is called Getti Melam. As it sounds, the Sumangali ladies sing, "Gouri Kalyaname, Vaibhogamay!"

The Vedic hymn recited by the bridegroom when he ties the knot is -

mAngalyam tantunAnena mama jIvanA hethunA |
kaNThe: badhnami subhage! sanjIva Sarada: Satam ||

"Praying the Almighty that I be blessed with a long life, I tie this knot around neck, Oh! Sowbhagyavati, may Providence bestow on you a fulfilling life of a 'Sumangali' for a hundred years to come!"