Maratha Matrimony

About Maratha Matrimony

Maratha community is found predominantly in the state of Maharashtra and nearby areas. Marathas are famed in the history as yeoman warriors and champions of Hinduism. They are known for their royal lifestyles. This royalty is also reflected in their wedding traditions. Maratha community matrimony is a true example of a royal celebration of a soulful event called marriage.

Let's take a detailed view of various functions of a Maratha matrimony.

Maratha Pre-Wedding Rituals

A typical Maratha wedding starts with 'Lagnaach Bedi' that means finding a suitable match, Var (Groom) or Vadhu (Bride) within the community. After finding any match the patrikas (horoscopes) of the boy and the girl are compared for 'Guna Milan' (matching the points of horoscope). The marriage alliance is approved by the priest only if 16 or more gunas from the horoscope of the boy and the girl matches.

After matching of horoscope a Baithak ceremony (a meeting between the elders of two families) is held. During this meeting, the parents and the close relatives discuss the various aspects of the wedding ceremony. After that, the family priest announces 'the Mahurat' (auspicious date and time) for the wedding before family members and relatives. Then starts a great celebration of life.

Sakhar Puda

This is a sort of a formal engagement. During this ceremony, several gifts, clothes, and jewelry are exchanged between both the families along with a packet of sugar (sakar). This packet of sugar symbolizes a pious beginning of the alliance.

Wang Nischay / Kelvan

During this ceremony, a pooja is performed in the honor of ancestral deities of both the families. All the relatives and family members of the bride and groom join this pooja. This ceremony concludes with a traditional feast.

Simant Puja

Simant means limits. Thus, during this ceremony, the groom and his guests are welcomed at the outer limits of the marriage venue. The bride's mother washes the groom's feet and puts kumkum tilak and akshata (turmeric stained rice) on his head, this is followed by an aarti and then she offers madhupak (a mixture of honey and curd) to the groom. The groom is then showered with gifts such as a trousseau like a suit, jewelry etc. Meanwhile, the groom's mother and female relatives go to the bride's place and give her clothes etc. This ritual concludes with a special lunch.

Halad Chadavane

This ritual is performed on the wedding eve. During this ritual five suvasinis (married ladies), apply turmeric paste on hands, feet, and forehead of the bride and the groom. This is done by dipping mango leaves in the turmeric paste. After this ceremony, the holy bath is given to the couple.

In Maratha community leftover turmeric paste of the groom is applied to the bride which is known as Ushti Halad.

Chuda

Chuda is a bridal shower ceremony during which bride receives lots of gifts from her family and friends. In addition, during this ceremony amidst of song, dance, and gaiety, the bride is made to wear green glass bangle along with two gold bangles. This set of bangles is known as Chura.

Maratha Wedding Day Rituals

Sankalp

At the dawn of the wedding day, the parents of the bride and the groom announce the marriage in their respective places in the presence of a priest.

Ganesh Puja

The Sankalp ceremony is followed by a pooja of Lord Ganesha, who is considered as the remover of all obstacles. His blessings are sought for the smooth conclusion of all the wedding functions. Lord Ganesha holds special significance for Maratha community.

Gowrihar Puja

Goddess Gouri is a considered as a supreme of marital bliss. Thus, the bride draped in a traditional yellow or green saree and half-moon painted on her forehead, worships Goddess Parvati, to seek her blessings. The bride continues to pray until she is called to the mandap.

Wedding Ceremony

At the arrival of the auspicious time of marriage, the bride is called to the mandap. Her maternal uncle escorts her to the mandap. A silk partition is placed between the bride and the groom, this ritual is called as the Antarpat ceremony. After chanting of mantras by the priest the antarpat is removed. This is followed by exchanging of garland between the couple.

Jhal Phirawne

This ritual is also known as Kanyadan. During the Jhal Phirwane ritual, the father gives his daughter's hand to the groom and hands over all her responsibilities to him.

Saptapadi

After Kanyadan the couple gets up to take seven rounds around the sacred fire. This symbolizes the seven vows of marriage. Following this, the groom ties the mangalsutra and applies sindoor on the forehead of the bride. In return, the bride applies a chandan tilak on the groom's forehead.

Laxmi Narayan Puja

At the conclusion of the marriage, the bride's family worships the bride and the groom as Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Narayan.

Maratha Post Wedding Rituals

Varat

During this ceremony, the newlyweds move towards the groom's house. This is a very touching moment where the bride bids goodbye to her family to start her new life with her husband.

Grihapravesh

At the groom's house, the mother of the groom welcomes the couple at the threshold by washing their feet with milk and water followed by an Aarti. The bride then dismounts a pot filled with rice with her right foot.

Reception

This is the traditional wedding feast given in the honor of the newlywed. During a unique tradition among Maratha community the bride's name is changed after her wedding. This ceremony is held at the groom's house during the reception.

Suun Mukh Baghne

This ritual is to indicate that the groom's mother should consider her daughter-in-law as her own daughter. Thus, during this ritual, the groom's mother first looks at her daughter in law's face, and then she looks at her own face in the mirror. Thereafter, she combs her daughter-in-law's hair to treat her as a daughter.

Halad Utaravane

This ceremony is a reverse version of halad chadavane ceremony.This symbolizes that all the marriage functions are concluded and the couple is now free to go out.