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The
most deciding factor in a Maharashtrian wedding is the grahas
(stars) of the boy and the girl. Once the horoscope is
matched, it is given to the respective Brahmins for Gun-
Milan (matching points). If sixteen points match, the knot
can be tied and
the process of wedding begins.
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Baithak is a meeting of the elder relatives of both the
families who talk and decide on various issues regarding the
actual Muhurat (auspicious time).The engagement ceremony
called Sakharpuda is held a day before the wedding or in
the morning of the wedding day. At this ceremony, the groom’s
parents give a saree to the bride as a symbol of acceptance into
their family. Her hands are adorned with green bangles, proving
her engagement. She is also given a pack of sugar, representing
the spread of sweetness. A day before the wedding, haldi
paste is applied to the bride. In the haldi ceremony for
the boy, a group of his women relatives apply haldi on him and
douse him with water- this is a ritual meant to sheer the
groom of shyness. |
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On
the day of the wedding both the Var (groom) and
the Vadhu
(bride) are traditionally dressed. The Vadhu, adorned with
jewellry, flowers and perfume is beautifully draped in her
wedding saree, Shalu. She is brought by her
maternal uncle into the pandal where the Var was
also brought by his maternal uncle and is impatiently
waiting for his companion. Both are made to stand apart,
facing each other with garlands in their hands and between
them is a plain white cloth called the Antarpath,
with a swastika mark made with kumkum. Both have Karawali
(partners) standing next to them as support, holding a
vessel with water and a coconut. The ceremony continues
with the chanting of auspicious shlokas or mantras
with showers of coloured rice to greet the newly
wed. |
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The Vadhu
garlands the Var and touches his feet to seek blessings. The Var
then garlands his wife. Then five married ladies from both the
families come forward and take aarti of the newly wed.
After
the garland ceremony the couple sit near the Brahmin where the Lajja
Hom is performed. Then the Var presents his wife the mangalsustra
and later puts toe rings on her toes. Then he fills her maang
with sindoor. Next, they both have to stand, offer Lhaya
(dried rice) into the Agni and go around the hom seven
times. In the first two rounds the Var leads and in the
remaining two the Vadhu walks ahead of him.
After
the Lajja Hom, the couple performs Laxmi Poojan, and then the
groom gives a new name to his wife, which he writes on the rice
with a gold ring.
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