Wedding tambola is a game that fits every part of a wedding: the mehendi, the sangeet, the reception and even the long wait before the baraat arrives. Print up to 600 unique wedding tambola tickets in wine red with wedding rings on every one, then call the numbers and give prizes such as the Mandap Line, the Ladkiwale Line and the Shaadi Full House. The pack has a caller sheet, a prize list and a rules page, and you can play it live on phones.
Wedding tambola to print (PDF)
These four pages show a wedding tambola set: a page of tickets titled “Shaadi Tambola, Sharma & Verma”, the 1 to 90 caller sheet, the prize list with the shaadi prize names and the one-page rules. Click a picture for the PDF, or use the generator at the top of the page to change the title, the date, the paper size and the number of tickets.
What is in the wedding tambola pack
Everything below is made in your browser, and nothing you type is uploaded. Put the names of the couple in the title box so every ticket becomes a keepsake.
| Page | What you get | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Tickets | Real strips of six: each strip uses every number from 1 to 90 exactly once | Up to 600 tickets, wine red with a wedding-rings motif and gold trim, with your title and the couple’s names on every ticket |
| Caller sheet | A 1 to 90 grid to cross off as you call | Keep it to check every winning claim |
| Prize list | The six shaadi prizes, from Baraat Five to Shaadi Full House | Space to write each prize and the winning ticket number |
| Rules page | A one-page script to read out before the first number | Covers claims and what happens after a wrong one |
Wedding tambola prizes and what they mean
The wedding theme names each prize after something in the ceremony, so reading the list out loud sets the mood and teases both sides of the family. Here is what each prize means and how to win it:
| Prize | How to win | Shaadi link |
|---|---|---|
| Baraat Five | Early Five: the first five numbers marked on a ticket | The baraat is the groom’s procession, and the first five numbers are the first drumbeats |
| Ladkiwale Line | Top Line: all five numbers on the top row | Ladkiwale are the bride’s family and friends |
| Mandap Line | Middle Line: all five numbers on the middle row | The mandap is the canopy where the ceremony takes place |
| Ladkewale Line | Bottom Line: all five numbers on the bottom row | Ladkewale are the groom’s family and friends |
| Four Pheras | Corners: the first and last number of the top and bottom rows | Four rounds, for the first four pheras or the four laavan of a Sikh wedding |
| Shaadi Full House | Full House: all fifteen numbers marked | The grand finale, and the prize of the day |
Number calls for your wedding tambola
A wedding has numbers that every guest knows: the seven pheras, the lucky amounts and the sixteen adornments. Use these calls to turn the numbers into wedding talk:
| Number | Call it | Why |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | Two families | A wedding joins two families as much as two people |
| 4 | Four laavan | A Sikh wedding has four laavan, or rounds of the holy book |
| 7 | Seven pheras | The seven rounds of the sacred fire in a Hindu wedding |
| 11 | Shubh gyarah | Lucky amounts such as 11, 21, 51 and 101 are given as shagun |
| 16 | Solah shringar | The sixteen adornments of a bride |
| 21 | Shubh ikkis | Another lucky shagun number |
| 51 | Shubh ikyaavan | The classic envelope amount |
| 90 | Top of the shop | The last number on the board |
How long does a wedding tambola game last?
A wedding tambola should fit between the dances and the dinner, so it helps to know how long a game runs. The table shows when each prize is usually won and how many minutes the whole game takes at the default speed of 10 seconds a call.
| Tickets | Typical crowd | Early Five | First full line | Full House | Time at 10 s a call |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 tickets | a small family function | call 14 (12 to 17) | call 43 (36 to 49) | call 76 (71 to 78) | 13 min |
| 30 tickets | a mehendi or a cocktail evening | call 12 (10 to 14) | call 36 (31 to 41) | call 72 (69 to 75) | 12 min |
| 60 tickets | a sangeet night | call 11 (9 to 12) | call 31 (26 to 36) | call 69 (66 to 72) | 12 min |
| 120 tickets | a big reception | call 10 (9 to 11) | call 28 (24 to 31) | call 66 (63 to 69) | 11 min |
The numbers come from real simulations of this generator: 300 games for each ticket count, with the typical call number and the middle half of results in brackets. More tickets mean the first prizes arrive sooner, but with 12 to 120 tickets the Full House still comes around call 66 to 76, because someone must complete all fifteen numbers. At a sangeet, the schedule is tight, so choose 6 seconds a call and play only for the Mandap Line and the Shaadi Full House.
Ladkiwale vs ladkewale games: a team tambola
The favorite game of a wedding is the contest between the bride’s side and the groom’s side. To play ladkiwale vs ladkewale games with tambola, give every guest on the bride’s side a ticket marked “L” and every guest on the groom’s side a ticket marked “G”. The Ladkiwale Line is won by the bride’s side only, the Ladkewale Line by the groom’s side only, and the Mandap Line and the Shaadi Full House by anyone. The side with the most wins gets a small trophy, and the banter lasts the whole evening.
Wedding games Indian families enjoy
Wedding games Indian families enjoy tend to be loud, funny and inclusive: antakshari, joota chupai, dumb charades with film names and tambola. The tambola is a good link between them, because it can be played by every age group and gives the elders something to do. For a quiz on the couple, see couple quiz questions.
Sangeet games for the dance break
Sangeet games should be short, so the dancing can restart. Play a quick tambola with only the top two lines and the Full House, or use a smaller ticket count. For a musical twist, try Bollywood musical tambola, or use sangeet dance floor bingo.
Shaadi tambola for the reception
Shaadi tambola is also a good way to entertain guests at a reception while the couple is on stage for photographs. Give a ticket to each table, with a prize for the first table to win a line. For background on the ceremony, see Wikipedia’s Hindu wedding article.
How to run a wedding tambola in six steps
- A month before: decide the events where tambola fits: mehendi, sangeet or reception.
- Two weeks before: type the couple’s names into the title box and print the tickets and the caller sheet.
- On the day: give a helper the tickets, the pens and the prizes at the entrance of the venue.
- Before the first number: have the emcee read the prize list and tease both sides of the family.
- During the game: call a number every 10 seconds and announce each win on the microphone.
- After the game: hand out the prizes, and keep the tickets for the couple’s album.
Prize ideas for a wedding tambola
- A box of sweets or dry fruit for the Baraat Five
- A pair of earrings or a purse for the Ladkiwale Line
- A decorated thali or a set of glasses for the Mandap Line
- A pair of cufflinks or a pen for the Ladkewale Line
- A bigger hamper, such as a dinner voucher or an appliance, for the Shaadi Full House
Type any of these into the “Extra fun prizes” box and they print on the prize list:
- Seven Pheras: the first guest to mark the number 7
- Shubh Ikkis: the first to mark the number 21
- Joota Chupai: the first to mark the numbers 4 and 40
- Best Dancer: a bonus prize for the best dancer on the floor, no ticket needed
Host tips for a smooth game
- Use two colors of pens or stickers for the two sides, so that the ladkiwale and the ladkewale are easy to tell apart.
- Have the emcee call the numbers, and give the mic to a cousin for the Full House.
- Keep the game short at a sangeet, because the dance floor is the main event.
- Print the tickets with the names of the couple so that guests keep them as souvenirs.
Wikipedia’s Hindu wedding article describes the rituals, from the engagement to the farewell.
Play wedding tambola live on phones
Press Create game in the live game below, share the link and every guest opens a different e-ticket on their phone. Numbers are called automatically at the speed you choose, read aloud in English or Hindi if you like, and you can check any winning claim by ticket number. No app and no sign-up. It is helpful for relatives in other countries, who can play along with the sangeet on a video call.
Wedding tambola: frequently asked questions
What are good wedding games Indian families can play?
Tambola, antakshari, dumb charades and joota chupai are favorites. Tambola is a good seated game that every age group can play, and it can be run with the bride’s and groom’s sides as teams.
How do I play ladkiwale vs ladkewale tambola?
Give each side its own tickets, and make each side’s prize line available to that side only. The Mandap Line and the Shaadi Full House are open to everyone. Count the wins at the end.
Can I print wedding tambola tickets with the couple’s names?
Yes. Use the title box for the names, such as “Shaadi Tambola, Sharma & Verma”, and the date box for the event. Both print on every ticket.
How many tickets can I print?
From 1 to 600 in one go, with 3, 6, 8 or 12 tickets per page. Press New tickets for a completely different set, and choose Letter or A4 paper, in color or black and white.
Are the wedding tambola tickets free?
Yes. The tickets, caller sheet, prize list, rules page and live game are all free for home, club and classroom use, with no sign-up.