KUALA LUMPUR, Jan. 27 -- Saying "I do" with a ring to wed two hearts together for marital bliss has become the norm in much of the world, even here in Malaysia.

But for many couples of South Indian origin - including Indian Malaysians - the binding symbol is in the thali rather than the ring.

I'm not talking about the traditional Indian meal served on a large plate in Hindi, but its Tamil homophone that refers to the bridal necklace presented by the groom to his soon-to-be wife.

Originally, the thali referred to the thread coated with turmeric and tied with three knots that adorns the bride's neck on her wedding day.

After the ceremony, the yellow thread is replaced with a gold chain called a thalikodi, on another auspicious date, whi...