Indian weddings are known for their traditions, customs, and a vivid culture that is nothing less than a festival that goes on for many days. It’s a complete package of festivities and recreation. India has several cultures and traditions and each of them has their different wedding styles. It may include a Kumaoni Wedding, a Garhwali Wedding, a Punjabi Wedding, a Konkani Wedding, or a Maharashtrian Wedding.

Have you shifted to Mumbai, Pune, or anywhere in Maharashtra? Are you planning on attending a Maharashtrian wedding soon? Marathi weddings are quite different from the weddings you see in different parts of the country. They are simple, entertaining, joyful, and quite vibrant while being subtle in every way. Maharashtrian weddings indeed prioritize simplicity and spirituality, reflecting the core values of the culture. While they may not be as opulent or extravagant as some other Indian weddings, they are rich in traditions and vibrant in their own right. If you’re organizing a Marathi wedding, having a comprehensive understanding of the essential rituals and their significance is crucial.

To assist you in this endeavor, here’s a compiled list of Marathi wedding rituals that will enhance your appreciation and execution of this grand cultural celebration!

Maharashtrian Wedding Rituals to know

Pre-Wedding Rituals

Lagnacha Bedior

This is the first ritual in a Marathi wedding or what happens in most Hindu weddings may be with other names. First of all, patrikas or horoscopes of to-be-bride and to-be-groom are matched. This ritual has had great importance for several decades, particularly in arrange marriages. Once the priest receives kundlis of both, they analyze to find out the most suitable date for the couple’s wedding. It also helps to find out beforehand, if there are any dosh such that it can be resolved beforehand. However, parents nowadays only want their kids to be happy and understand their wishes.

Sakhar Puda

 Sakhar Puda marks the beginning of the wedding festivities. It is the formal engagement ceremony that is held in the presence of both families where haldi kumkum is applied to the forehead of the bride by the groom’s mother. The bride also receives a saree, jewelry, and Sakhar Puda (sweets) from the groom’s mother as a sign of acceptance in the family. After Sakhar Puda, the couple exchange rings and this usually takes place a few days before the wedding.

Muhurat Karane

Once the wedding date is final, another auspicious date is chosen to initiate the wedding preparations. On this designated day, five married women, known as “Suhasanie,” are invited to partake in certain customs. They grind turmeric or “Halkund” using an iron pestle adorned with mango leaves and engage in making Papads and Sandage (a mixture of soaked and ground pulses combined with spices, dried under the sun). This is a significant pre-wedding ritual associated with the Muhurat Karane. Following this tradition, wedding shopping commences. The bride’s family hosts a Rukhvat for showcasing and adorning the home with bridal attire, jewelry, kitchenware, sweets, and other bridal trousseaus, presenting a delightful glimpse into the upcoming wedding festivities.

Kelvan

Kelvan is another popular Maharashtrian wedding ritual that takes place a few days before the wedding. Both families perform pooja to their respective Kuldevta (family deity) in the presence of their families, relatives, and friends. This is performed in order to take blessings from their deity and is then followed by a family meal where everyone gathers for the Pooja to enjoy food together.

Halad Chadavane

The Halad Chadavane or Haldi Ceremony is a vibrant and joyous pre-wedding event that unfolds on the day preceding the wedding. The five married women, who earlier pounded the turmeric during the Muhurat Karane ritual, play a central role in this ceremony. These women expertly prepare a paste of Haldi and apply it to the bride and groom’s head, shoulders, hands, and feet with some mango leaves. This auspicious ritual commences at the groom’s residence and then the remaining turmeric paste is carried to the bride’s home for application. This symbolizes the beginning of their ceremonial journey towards marital bliss.

Chura Ceremony

We all know that Indian culture considers chura, churis or bangles quite significant for Indian woman and like any other culture, it is also important in the Marathi tradition. During this ritual, the bride receives a set of green glass bangles with gold or pearl bangles. Green color represents life, creation, and fertility, and is highly auspicious in Maharashtrian traditions. It embodies optimism and symbolizes the hopes and aspirations for a prosperous life for the newlywed couple, making it a cherished part of the matrimonial celebrations.

Wedding Day Rituals of a Marathi Wedding

Ganpati Puja and Devdak

No auspicious occasion or event is complete without Ganesh Puja so how can an Indian wedding start without worshipping Shri Vighnaharta Ganesha? The wedding traditions begin by invoking Ganesha and then Kuldevta is gathered at the location of the wedding to seek their blessings for the couple.

Punyavachan and Seeman Pujan

At the wedding venue, a significant ritual known as ‘punyavachan’ takes place. During this ceremony, the bride’s parents invite their relatives and guests to bless their daughter for a prosperous and happy future.

As the groom and his family arrive, the bride’s mother plays a pivotal role in welcoming them. She washes the groom’s feet, applies a tilak on his forehead, performs an aarti (a ritual of offering light), and graciously welcomes him into the wedding venue. This tradition reflects the warm and inclusive spirit of the wedding, symbolizing the union of two families and the beginning of a new journey.

Gaurihar Pujan

Adorned in a traditional Paithani saree or silk shalu, accompanied by exquisite gold jewelry and adorned with flowers in her hair, the bride participates in a significant ritual. She worships and seeks the blessings of Goddess Parvati for a prosperous and harmonious life ahead. During this sacred pooja, the bride’s maternal uncle presents her with a symbol of wealth, known as “shagun,” which she then offers to Goddess Parvati, seeking divine blessings for abundance and prosperity in her married life. This ritual symbolizes the bride’s reverence and devotion to the goddess, seeking a blessed and fulfilling journey into matrimony.

Antarpat

We all know how vivid and vibrant Indian wedding traditions are. Antarpat is a ritual in the Maharashtrian wedding which includes a thread called mundvalya tied to the head of the bride as well as the groom. After tying the thread, the groom sits at his place. During this ritual, there is a cloth or silk shawl between the bride and groom acting as a curtain that restricts them from seeing each other. This is a kind of ritual that you won’t find in the weddings of North India.

Sankalp

After Antarpat, the bride enters the mandap with her maternal uncle as the priest chants some mantras to sit by the holy fire for further rituals and traditions. The Antarpat between the couple is then removed and the couple finally gets a chance to see each other. As the couple exchange their varmala, people shower Akshata (whole rice) on them. This marks the commencement of the wedding rituals.

Kanyadaan

It is the most difficult part for the bride’s parents as it is the ritual in which the father of the bride gives her hand to the hands of her husband and shower blessings on them. This is a very emotional moment where the eyes of everyone along with the father-daughter duo become teary. The groom then promises her father to give love and respect to his wife forever. After this the couple ties a piece of turmeric to the hand of each other and this ritual is popular as Kankan Bandhane. This eliminates any evil eyes from the couple. Now it’s the groom’s turn to tie Mangalsutra to the bride’s neck while the bride applies the Chandan tilak on her husband’s forehead.

Lajahoma

The bride offers grains to the havan (holy fire) while chanting three mantras, which the groom repeats after her. Subsequently, in a symbolic act, the bride softly recites the fourth mantra. During this auspicious ritual, the bride’s parents honor and worship the couple, considering them as avatars of Lord Vishnu and Goddess Lakshmi, signifying divine blessings for a blissful marriage.

The groom then solemnly ties the Mangalsutra around the bride’s neck and applies Sindoor (vermilion) on her forehead. These actions hold profound significance in the journey of their marital commitment and spiritual togetherness.

Saptapadi

After this, the couple takes 7 pheras around the holy fire that represents the togetherness and union of the couple for the next seven lives. While taking pheras around the fire, they also take seven sacred vows. Then takes place Karmasamapti in which the couple performs Lakshmi Pujan until the fire blows away. Later, there is a fun ritual in a Maharashtrian wedding where the brother or other male relative of the bride twists the ear of the groom playfully.

Varat

Now comes the part when the bride has to leave her Maayka. Varat means the bride bidding farewell to her parents and going to her husband’s home. As the bride bids goodbye to her family & friends, the groom carries the idol of goddess Parvati from the Gaurihar Pujan. It is a very emotional moment for the bride’s family.

Grihapravesh

Once the couple reaches the groom’s home, the bride makes entry to the new family. The groom’s mother washes their feet with milk and water and then welcomes the couple by doing their pooja. The bride then slowly kicks the kalash filled with rice and they enter the house bringing in the positive energy. The homecoming of the bride is seen as a symbol of Goddess Lakshmi bringing in wealth and prosperity.  

So, these were the traditions and customs that people follow in Maharashtrian wedding. If you know something, that we missed out in this, please share with us.

Whenever you hear about a Sikh wedding, what is the first thing that comes first to your mind? Punjabi weddings are widely known for their loud and lively lavish wedding ceremonies full of fun, colors, food, and music. Punjabi people and culture are believed to be a bit more expressive than the rest of the Indian culture. There is a lot to enjoy while being at a Punjabi wedding. Punjabis are very particular about their wedding rituals and follow their age-old tradition. Not just this, even the Punjabi NRI’s who are residing out of India never leave a chance to celebrate their traditional wedding. Sikh Weddings offer the best glance at a combination of Asian and Hesperian values, customs, and traditions.

Are you aware of the wedding traditions ad rituals performed in a big fat Punjabi wedding? Let us take a virtual visit to a Punjabi wedding and enjoy the vibrant culture.

Punjabi Pre-Wedding Rituals

Roka & Thaka

Roka is the first ritual of the Sikh wedding. It comes from the word “Rokna” where a family from the bride’s side visits the groom’s family with sweets and gifts. This tradition is performed in the absence of the bride. Then the groom’s family visits the family of the bride. The former family brings fruits, sweets, and gifts for the bride. The couple is then made to sit together and is announced officially as a couple. The couple is then showered with blessings and offered gifts which are known as shagan or shagun. They are offered laddu. This ceremony that happens at the bride’s home is Thaka. Earlier this ceremony was an intimate affair at each other’s home but now most people consider performing this at one place together.

Chunni Chadhana

This is the formal ceremony before the engagement where the bride and groom are announced soon to be married. The family and relatives of the Groom visit the Bride’s home with the red outfit, bangles, Chunni, jewelry, and makeup that the bride will be wearing on her wedding day. The groom’s mother put the chunni on the bride’s head as a veil. This is Chunni chadhana. Then Mehendi is applied to the hands of the bride. Then father of the groom put dry fruits in the jholi of the bride and the father of the latter put mewa (dry fruits) in the jholi of the groom.

Kurmai

Kurmai ceremony is one of the auspicious ones that is held either at the groom’s residence or at Gurudwara in the presence of close friends and family. The granthi will start the Ardas, later to which the sister of the groom put a cloth or palla on his shoulder into which the father of the girl will put dry fruits and a Kada on his wrist. The ceremony ends when fathers of both bride and groom exchange garlands.

Engagement

It is one of the common wedding rituals of all Indian weddings where the bride and groom exchange rings in the presence of close friends, relatives, and family. Once the couple exchanges the rings, the guests give those gifts and shower their blessings on the couple.

Shagun and Saha Patr

The bride’s family organize a special wedding invitation speckled with kesar. A few of the important family members take it to the groom’s house. Their visit is usually made carrying invitations with gifts like dry fruits, fruits, sweets, clothes, and a sacred coconut. The intent of this is to officially invite the groom and his family and to inform them commencement of the wedding preparations.

Akhand Path

Akhand Path is the reading of “Guru Granth Sahib”, the holy book of Sikhs, for 48 hours continuously prior to the wedding date. Both families organize paths separately. After the path, kirtan is conducted where religious hymns and songs are sung. In the end, ardas is made, and Karah Prasad is distributed among all.

Mehendi Ceremony

Every bride ever loves this ceremony where she applies henna or Mehendi on her hands and legs. Either someone from the family or any Mehendi artist is called to apply the beautiful Mehendi design. Along with the bride, her friends, sisters, cousins or any other ladies can also apply henna to their hands on this day.

Ladies Sangeet

In ladies sangeet, ladies who are close to bride and groom, sing and dance at night. It is almost similar to a bachelor party. Along with the enjoyment, light snacks as refreshments are also distributed among all.

Jaago

Jaago means to wake up. In this ceremony, a night before the Sikh wedding, relatives of the bride and groom sing songs, dance with decorated pots and diyas the whole night. Other villagers and neighbors are also called for this event. The purpose of this ritual is to make noise all night and party. Bamboo sticks and chaj are banged until they break.

Sikh Wedding Day Ceremony

Kangana Bandhana

This is the first ceremony held on the day of the wedding. This mouli (a pure sacred thread) is tied to the bride and groom’s hand by a priest. This Kangana or mouli has to be there until it itself falls off.

Chooda Chadhana

In this ceremony, the maternal uncle or mama of the girl with his wife presents a set of 21 red and ivory bangles to the bride. The bangles are first dipped in milk and rose petals that are later put on the wrist of the bride. Then immediately those bangles are covered with a white cloth so that the girl doesn’t see them.

Kalire Ceremony

It is a kind of fun ceremony held between the bride, her sisters, and female friends. Kalire is tied to her hands that are a symbol of fertility and lively life. Once kalire is tied to the bride’s wrists, she shakes and tries to shower it on other girls. On whom the kalire falls off by breaking will be the next girl to get married.

Maiyan/Vatna

A colorful rangoli is prepared on the floor. The maternal relatives of both bride and groom usually make it. A peerhi is placed near to it on which bride and groom will sit at their respective home. They are then made to sit on a peerhi with a tray filled with decorative items.

Haldi Ceremony

It is again a ceremony that happens in most Indian weddings. In this, a paste of turmeric is prepared with rose water, sandalwood, and mustard oil. It is then applied to the arms, legs, and cheeks of the bride and groom separately.

Ghara Gharoli

After the Haldi ceremony, the bride visits the nearby temple where sacred and pure water is poured over her. Then she enters the temple to take the blessings from God and then return back to her home.

Sehrabandi

In sehrabandi, once the groom is ready for the wedding he takes the blessings of all the deities and elder members of the family. A pink turban cloth is worshipped that is called sehra and then is wrapped around the head of the groom. The sehra is then tied to his head that has strings and his face is partially visible in it.

Ghodi  Sajana and Ghodi Chadhana

The baraat comprises the groom who rides his horse on which he enters the wedding venue where the ceremonies take place, and his close family and friends dancing as a part of the procession. Before proceeding with the journey on the mare, she is decorated and offered chickpeas and jaggery.

Agwaani and Milni

It is one of the most important traditions in Punjabi weddings. The family from the bride’s side welcomes the baraatis which sometimes includes aarti too. Then all the members of the corresponding family greet and meet each other. There is then an exchange of gifts or grooms relatives are sometimes offered some money known as milni.

Varmaala

After the groom enters the venue, the bride is called for another ceremony. It is called Varmaala or Jaimala. In this both bride and groom exchange garlands.

Madhuperk/Madhuperka tradition of Sikh Wedding

After the garlands are exchanged, the bride and the groom are made to sit around the sacred fire. The bride first proffers the groom a bowl of water. He splashed some droplets first on his feet, then the body, and ultimately drinks the rest.

Then the groom is given a sharbat called madhuperk, prepared from ghee, curd, honey, and some essence to drink. He takes it and shower some in all directions and then slowly sips it.

Kanyadan

This is an emotional moment for the bride and her parents. The bride’s father gives the hand of the bride the groom’s hand and asks him to treat her well with all of his love, care, respect, and security.

Laavan Phere

It is a prayer of four vows that confirms the marriage. One end from the dupatta of the bride is tied to the shawl or dupatta on the groom’s shoulder. They then take four pheras or circles of Guru Granth Sahib.

Joota Chupai

While the groom is busy with the rituals, the sisters and brothers of the bride hide his shoes and then demand money in exchange for those, if he wants them back. After some bargaining they arrive at an amount considered by both the parties and are then exchanged with the shoes.

Post wedding rituals

Vidaai

Viddai is the overwhelming part of every wedding. Now the time has come when the bride has to say goodbye to her family and move to the new one. The new family with new people will be now her family and she has to live there for the rest of her life.

Paani Varna ritual of Sikh Wedding

It is the first Sikh Wedding ceremony that happens with the bride and groom together after the wedding in the groom’s house. On their arrival at the entrance of the house, the groom’s mother does aarti of them with a utensil filled with water. After each circle, the groom’s mother tries to drink that water, but the bride has to stop her. And mother is allowed to drink water only on the seventh circle. The bride is then welcomed in the house and she enters by leaving her footprints colored with the red lac dyed water and then visit the temple of the house to take blessings.

Mooh Dikhai

In this Sikh Wedding ceremony, the bride is introduced to the groom’s relatives and neighbors for the first time. The mother-in-law of the bride offers her gifts and jewelry and other elders also present her gifts.

Reception

In the honor of the new couple, the guy’s family throws a grand reception party at their residence, where guests are invited to meet the new couple. It is a night of fun and excitement. Everyone enjoys, dance, and celebrate the union of the couple.

Pag Phera

A day after the wedding day or next to the reception, the bride and groom are invited to the bride’s house for a small gathering. The family of the bride visits the groom’s home to take her back for the event of pag phera.

This calls for the end of the rituals of the Sikh wedding. Hope you must have enjoyed this virtual tour. Let us know your experience with this.