Maharashtrian Wedding

The Land and the People

Maharashtrian weddings are held in Maharashtra, in western India. They take place in cities like Mumbai, Pune, Nashik, Nagpur and Kolhapur. Maharashtra is a state of big cities, old forts, farms and the sea. The people speak Marathi, and they take pride in their history and their culture.

Marathi families in other states and countries also follow these customs. The weddings are simple, neat and full of meaning. The main ceremony is often short and beautiful. The Maharashtrian style is calm, and it shows a love for order and tradition.

How Long the Wedding Lasts

A Maharashtrian wedding usually takes one to three days. In the past, it could take up to five days. Today, most families hold the main ceremony in one day, with small functions before and after. The wedding is often held in a hall, and it starts on time.

Before the Wedding

The engagement is called Sakhar Puda, where the families exchange gifts and sweets. The groom’s mother gives the bride a sari and sweets. Sakhar means sugar, and Puda means a packet. It is a sign of sweet wishes. The families share a meal.

Halad Chadavne is the Haldi ceremony, held in both homes. Turmeric paste is applied to the bride and groom by married women of the family. The women sing songs and laugh. The turmeric is believed to bring beauty and good luck. In many families, the paste is applied with mango leaves.

The Wedding Day

In Simant Pujan, the bride’s family welcomes the groom with a puja. The bride’s mother washes the groom’s feet and puts a tilak on his forehead. She gives him gifts. This is a warm and respectful ritual. The bride’s parents treat the groom as a god.

A cloth called an Antarpat is held between the couple. The priests chant Mangalashtak, which are eight verses of blessing. The priest chants the verses, and the guests throw rice on the couple. When the last verse ends, the cloth is pulled away. The bride and groom see each other and exchange garlands.

The bride’s father does Kanyadaan, and the groom ties the Mangalsutra. The Mangalsutra is a gold necklace with black beads. In Saptapadi, the couple takes seven steps around the holy fire. In each step, they make a promise to each other. The wedding ends with Grihapravesh, when the bride enters the groom’s home. She is welcomed with a lamp. She gently knocks over a pot of rice with her foot, and she then steps in.

Clothes and Jewelry

The bride often wears a Paithani or a nine-yard sari, with green bangles and a nose ring called Nath. The Paithani is a silk sari with a rich golden border, and it is woven by hand. The nine-yard sari is draped in a special way, and it looks like a dhoti. The green bangles are a symbol of luck. The groom wears a dhoti-kurta and a cap or turban. The cap is white, and it is called a Gandhi topi. Some grooms wear a colourful pheta, which is a turban.

Food, Music and Fun

Popular wedding food includes Puran Poli, Masale Bhat, Shrikhand and Jalebi. Puran Poli is a sweet flatbread filled with lentils and jaggery. Masale Bhat is a spicy rice dish with vegetables. Shrikhand is a sweet curd dish, and Jalebi is a crispy sweet dipped in syrup. The meal is served on a banana leaf or a plate. The music at the wedding often includes the shehnai and the drums. A Maharashtrian wedding is short, neat and full of meaning.