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Maharashtrian Wedding
Pre-wedding rituals
Sakhar Puda
This ritual traditionally took place once the marriage was fixed. Sakhar Puda which literally translates as a packet of sugar, was exchanged between the two families. But as time passed the engagement ceremony came to be known as Sakhar Puda in most cases this happens a day or two before the marriage ceremony.
Simant Puja
On their arrival in the bride's village the bridegroom's family members were worshipped. A feast was also arranged for the distinguished visitors, who had come to take away their daughter. The tradition is also followed nowdays.
Ghana Bharne
Married women of the house carry out this ritual on the day of the actual ceremony. Before having their bath the women grind grains in a vessel. In the days before professional catering, fashionable food for the guests was prepared by the women of the house. Turmeric paste is applied all over the bridegroom's body. Then some of this applied paste taken and sent to the bride's house. This paste mixed with some more is applied on to the blushing would-be bride amidst a lot of jokes. The bride is not supposed to think of anyone but Goddess Gauri immediately before her marriage.
Wedding rituals
Marriage Ceremony
As the Mahurat approaches, the bride's mama comes to take her to the mandap. Their approach to the mandap is rather elaborate, as they are not allowed to take a peek at each other. This is managed by raising an Antarpaat, a partition of cloth between the bride and bridegroom. Only after chanting the relevant shlokas can this Antarpaat be removed. At the time of removing the Antarpaat the people present shower the couple with Akshata(unbroken rice). It is essential that the grains be whole as they are symbolic of the blessing from those present. The couple garlands each other. Like most Hindu marriages seven rounds around the havan are called Saptapadi.
Laxmi Narayan Puja
One of the most important events after the marriage is Laxmi Narayan Puja. The bride and the bridegroom are considered to be Goddess Laxmi and Lord Narayan respectively and worshipped. After this ceremony the bride is formally handed over by her parents to the bridegroom.
Kanyadaan
Placing 21 lit diyas in a cane dish, the dish is initially placed on the bride's head and later taken around to the bridegroom's family. The bride's father places the dish over the heads of the bridegroom's family members one by one as a symbol of their being witnesses to the marriage. He asks the family members to accept his daughter and accept her as their own.This is called Jhal Phirawne.
Suun Mukh Baghne
The bride has not only married a man she has entered a new family. Her initiation is done by her mother-in-law. The bridegroom's mother looks (baghne) at her daughter-in-law's (sunn) face (mukh). The mother-in-law takes both her son and her daughter-in-law in her lap. Later she looks at her daughter-in-law's face in the mirror. She also combs her hair. Probably a throw back to the days when the bride and the groom were mere children this ritual still retains the feeling of a mother-daughter relationship that it conjures.
Changing her name
It was a practice to change the name of the girl after marriage in Maharashtrian Brahmin families. This ceremony takes place at the boy's house. After inscribing the Om Ganeshay Nama and the kuldevta's name the bridegroom traces the name of his wife in a plate full of rice. Though a Maharashtrian Brahmin marriage is a lengthy affair with many rituals squeezed in a day it still retains an element of fun and frolic.
Post-wedding rituals
Reception
Reception as usual takes place on the night of marriage. Generally, lunch is arranged in the afternoon. A peculiarity of the lunch is that not all the people sit together to eat. Initially, the bridegroom's family members are made to have lunch. The couple takes rounds of the mandap where the guests are having lunch, serving sweets and making sure that everyone eats well. Then the bride's family is asked to go ahead. In the end, the couple and their parents have lunch together.
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