Maharashtrian Wedding Culture and Traditions

India is a country with a very vast culture and traditions. Maharashtrian weddings are somewhat simple in rituals to perform. They are not lavish like other marriages. Unlike other marriages which take place in the night, Maharashtrian marriages are arranged in the early hours of the morning.

When the girl and the boy attain the right age to marry, a haunt for the suitable match starts. Sometime, girl and boy already know each other and brief introduction of the families is only needed. Horoscopes of boy and girl are matched; gunas should well match so that the compatibility of the couple is to be seen.

After finding the suitable match, ceremony of engagement which is popularly known as "Shakar Puda" is performed. In this ceremony, sweets are exchanged between the both families. This ritual is based on the belief that it fills the sweetness in the new lives. Often, saree is given to the would-be-bride by the in-laws to mark her acceptance in the family.

"Kelvan' is another ceremony which takes place at the house of both bride and groom. The family members and relatives gather and a lavish meal are organized. A puja is performed to please the deity and seek the blessings.

After this "haldi ceremony" takes place. A paste of turmeric is applied on the skin of the bride so that her skin glows. She is made sitted on a wooden table and a blouse piece and a coconut is given to her.

Five married women with copper vessels decorated with a coconut and mango leaves filled with holy water take five rounds around the bride and pour water on her. After the bath, her maternal uncle breaks the neem twings and asks her to go inside the house. This ceremony is performed to ward off evil spirits.

Now both boy and girl become ready for the wedding ceremony. When the groom reaches the bride's house, "Seeman puja" is performed. In it, feet of the groom and his family members are washed by the bride's parents.

The whole venue is decorated with flowers. The groom shows his desire to enter the house holder's life and he is given blessings by the priest. Girl reaches with her maternal uncle. Both boy and girl seek the permission of their parents. The family members exchange sweets and greet each other. "Kanayadan" is performed in which girl's hand is given in the hands of boy and water is poured by the mother.

The groom touches the right shoulder of bride in acceptance. Mangalsutra is tied around the bride's neck by the groom and she is given sari. She changes her dress.

Vivah homa is performed which is associated with performing a havan in front of fire and ghee and water are poured in the fire. "Satapati" is performed after this, groom takes the left hand of the girl with his right hand and they take seven steps. In every step, they step on a heap of rice which is a symbol for their new lives and vows taken by them.

After this blessings of the God are seeked and water in the container is sprinkled in all the directions and on the head of the couple.

A feast is organized and meals are served on banana leaves.

Grihaparvesh is performed when bride reaches the groom's home. Mother of the groom washes the couple's feet with milk. Bride is welcomed in her new house and she is given gifts and jewels. She is blessed by the elders to start a new life.