Wedding

Maharashtrian wedding ceremonies are rooted in Vedic tradition, so religion and family play an important role in them. There are a series of pre-wedding rituals before the actual wedding day. During Lagnaach Bedior, a family priest matches the couple’s kundalis or horoscopes to assess their compatibility. Following his approval, an auspicious wedding date and time is set. An engagement ceremony is held called Sakhar Puda. Here, the families exchange sugar packets and gifts of coins, sarees, and jewellery to accept the marriage officially and then, the couple exchange rings in an Engagement ceremony. In the days leading up to the wedding, the bride’s family hosts the Muhurt Karane ceremony. In this heartfelt ceremony, five married women help the bride and her mother with wedding preparations. It is a beautiful moment as the community comes together to make turmeric powder, which will be used during the Halad Chadavane ceremony. This ceremony is similar to the North Indian Haldi ritual where turmeric paste is applied to the bride and groom for good luck. During the Chura ceremony, the bride is given a set of ‘Hirva’ or green glass bangles from her family and a set of ‘Patalya’ or gold bangles from her in-laws. These bangles represent health, fertility, and fortune, and the bride wears them on her wedding day. Since religion is deeply intertwined in the wedding customs, both families pray to their Kuldevta or family deity in a Kelvan pooja. Lord Ganesh is highly revered in Maharashtra, and most weddings begin by praying to him for good luck. The Ganpati Puja is followed by the Devdevak and Gaurihar Pooja. In the Devdevak Pooja, the priest invites the Kuldevta to bless the mandap, while the bride prays to Goddess Parvati for prosperity during the Gaurihar Pooja. The bride’s maternal uncle gives her some rice to offer to the goddess. During the Punyavachan ritual, the bride’s parents escort her to the wedding venue and ask the guests to bless them. Then, the groom arrives at the venue and is received by the bride’s mother, who washes his feet, puts tilak on his forehead, and performs Aarti in a custom called Seemanpuja. The groom enters the mandap, and a curtain known as Antarpat separates him and the bride’s seat. The priest then puts the Mundavalya, a holy ornament tied to the forehead, on the groom. The bride enters the mandap during Sankalp as the priest chants Mangalashtakas or sacred prayers. At the right Muhurt, the antarpat is removed. This is a particularly beautiful moment as the couple see each other for the first time on their wedding day. They exchange jaimalas or flower garlands as their family and friends shower them with akshata or rice for good luck. The father of the bride performs the Kanyadaan, an emotional custom in which he gives his daughter to the groom with his blessings. In return, the groom agrees to love and take care of her wholeheartedly. For the final marriage rituals, the priest lights the sacred fire during Lajahoma while chanting sacred Vedic scriptures. The couple offers grains and rice to the fire and chants three mantras as dictated by the priest. After that, the bride’s parents worship the couple as incarnations of Vishnu and Laxmi, and the couple tie a thread dipped in turmeric to each other’s hands. The groom ties the mangalsutra around the bride's neck and applies Sindoor (vermillion) on her forehead. This is followed by Saptapadi, where the couple walks around the holy fire seven times. Each circle represents a sacred wedding vow that the couple makes to each other. The mandap rituals conclude with Karmasamapti, where the couple prays to Goddess Laxmi until the fire is extinguished. In some communities, the groom gives the bride a new name. The bride's brother twists the groom’s ear teasingly to remind him to take care of his sister. After all the rituals are over, the bride and groom leave the wedding venue in the Varat or Bidai ceremony. This is an emotional moment for her and her family. While the bride says her goodbyes, the groom carries the Parvati idol from Gaurihar Puja. When they reach the groom’s home, they are received by the groom’s mother. She performs the Grihapravesh Aarti and washes the couple’s feet with milk and water. Then, the bride gently kicks over a Kalash — a small vessel filled with rice for good luck — and the couple enters their home right foot first. A few days after all rituals and ceremonies are over, the couple celebrates with a wedding reception, joined by family and friends, marking the end of their wedding festivities.

Jewellery & Accessories

Jewellery is an important part of wedding ensembles. One of the most memorable ornaments in a Maharashtrian wedding is the Mundavalya, a delicate string of pearls worn on the forehead. Worn by the bride and the groom, it symbolises their togetherness and unbreakable bond. Some contemporary Mundavalyas are also made from jasmine flowers. 

The Marathi bride is decked out in traditional gold jewellery that reflects the state’s rich history of craftsmanship. The Kohlapuri Saaj is central to the Maharashtrian bride's ensemble. It is a traditional gold necklace with twenty-one leaf-shaped pendants symbolising prosperity and divine blessings. Another quintessential piece is the Thushi, a choker necklace intricately crafted with gold beads. No bridal ensemble is complete without the Mangalsutra, a black and gold beaded necklace with a gold pendant that signifies marital status. Several iconic neckpieces include the Tanmani, Bormal, and Ranihar.