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Maharastrian Wedding Rituals
Maharastrian Wedding Rituals
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The Sakhar Puda ritual: This is the first ritual of the wedding, also known as the engagement ceremony. The bride-to-be
is gifted a sari and a packet of sugar or sweets, by the groom’s family. After this the couple exchange rings.
The Kelvan ritual: A prayer is performed at both, the bride and the groom’s, houses. In this, both the families offer their
prayers to their kuldevta (family deity). The prayer ceremony is followed by a family lunch.
The Halad Chadavane: This ceremony is conducted in most of the regional weddings in India. Turmeric paste is applied
on to the face, hands and feet of both the bride and the groom. This ceremony takes place a day before the wedding.
The Seemaan Puja: Seemaan puja is conducted when the groom reaches the wedding venue with a wedding procession.
The bride’s parents wash his feet and shower him with gifts and blessings.
The wedding day ceremonies begin with Ganapati puja, to seek blessings of Lord Ganesha before any other rituals take
place. The bride’s maternal uncles escort her to the lagna mandap, where the mangalashtakas (Sanskrit and Marathi holy
verses) are being recited. The bride and the groom have to wear the mundavalya on their heads, which is basically a string
of flowers or pearls.
The Antarpat ritual: As the marriage rituals begin, the bride and the groom are not supposed to see each other. So, a silk
shawl separation is placed between the two.
The Sankalp ritual: After the holy verses are recited, the couple sees each other for the first time. Guests shower
akshata (unbroken rice grains) on the couple. Then the couple exchange garlands.
The Kanyadan ritual: In kanyadan ceremony bride’s father gives his daughter’s hand in the hands of the groom. After
this, the groom ties a mangalsutra around the girl’s neck and applies sindoor (vermillion) in the centre of her hair parting.
The bride then applies a sandalwood tikka on the groom’s forehead.
The Satapadhi ritual: Here, the couple takes seven rounds around the sacred fire, reiterating seven holy vows of
matrimony. The girl also has to touch seven small heaps of rice with her right foot.
The Karmasampati ritual: The bride’s father, along with the newly married couple, prays to the lord for his blessings.
To add a dash of humour to the ceremony, sometimes bride’s father or brother playfully twist groom’s ear, reminding him
of his responsibility towards the bride. All this is followed by a grand lunch to mark the completion of wedding ceremonies.
The Varat ritual: After the wedding ceremonies are complete, the bride bids a tearful farewell to her family members.
The Grihapravesh: As bride enters the groom’s house for the first time, her mother-in-law welcomes her by doing an
aarti. She also washes the couple’s feet with water and milk. The bride gently kicks a kalash of rice placed at the door of the
house and the couple enters the house by placing their right foot first.
After the bride enters her new house, a wedding reception is often held by the groom’s side, as a mark of welcoming the
new family member.