Important Rituals of Marathi Matrimony

The people of Maharashtra have a unique culture and tradition of their own and this truly reflects in Marathi Matrimony. Maharashtra’s culture is an amalgamation of northern Aryan traditions and the Dravidian culture of the south. The people from different regions of Maharashtra also have different traditions and rituals. Folk songs and dances are very much is part of the culture of the state and is showcased in the weddings.

I’m a foreign national and was really lucky to be a part of a Marathi Matrimony. This is a wedding of one of my friends and I came attend the function in her hometown, which is Nagpur. The traditional Marathi wedding is usually a long affair with many functions and customs. Every family member engages himself in some kind of work. Before the marriage, the house of the bride and groom is painted.

There are many rituals in a Marathi Matrimony. What I noticed is that many rituals involved prayers to the almighty. The Seeman Pooja is a traditional practice among the Marathi people. Here the girl’s parents welcome the groom and his family members. Upon arrival, the bride’s parent washes the groom’s feet as well as his parents. The groom is made to sit on Chaurang, which is a square tool. The bride’s sides bestow gifts to the groom like gold ring or a wristwatch. He also receives silverware as gifts. I was amazed to see the gifts received by the groom before the wedding day.

Another interesting ceremony in the Marathi Matrimony is the Gouri-Har Pooja. This is also a prayer ceremony where the bride seeks blessings of the goddess Gouri. The idol is placed on a square tool and the bride sits in front of the idol and offers prayers. At the end of her prayers, her maternal uncle takes her for the curtain ceremony also known as ‘antarpaat’ in Marathi. For this ceremony, the bride wears a yellow sari and green glass bangles adorn her arms. I heard that in Marathi custom wearing green glass bangles is considered auspicious as it signifies new beginning.

I was happy to be a part of the Marathi Matrimony and watched some interesting rituals typical of a Hindu Marathi wedding. Taking blessings of the Almighty is something I liked in their wedding rituals. Keeping the entire function very simple, the wedding was good experience for me.

Author: Shipra Sinha