A Marathi wedding is known for its warmth and simplicity. Where some Indian weddings stretch over days of elaborate ceremony, the traditional Marathi lagna keeps the focus on meaning - a series of graceful rituals, plenty of family, and the unmistakable sound of the sanai and chaughada. Here is a walk through the customs, in the order they usually unfold.
Before the wedding day
Sakharpuda (engagement). The families formalise the match by exchanging sugar and gifts. The bride often receives a saree and ornaments, and the date of the wedding is fixed.
Muhurta Karne and Kelvan. Preparations begin with auspicious tasks, and close family hosts intimate pre-wedding meals (kelvan) for the couple.
Halad (haldi). Turmeric paste is lovingly applied to the bride and groom at their own homes, believed to bless them with a glow and ward off ill fortune. It is a joyful, slightly messy affair full of laughter.
On the wedding day
Ganpati Puja and Devak. The day begins by invoking Lord Ganesha for an obstacle-free ceremony, followed by the installation of the devak (a family deity symbol) that marks the start of the wedding rites.
Seemant Puja. The bride's family welcomes the groom and his family at the venue's threshold with great respect.
Antarpat and Mangalashtak. This is the emotional heart of a Marathi wedding. A decorative cloth (antarpat) is held between the bride and groom so they cannot see each other. Priests and family recite the Mangalashtaka - eight blessing verses - and at the final "Shubh Mangal Savadhan!" the cloth drops, the couple garland each other, and the hall erupts in cheer and grains of akshata.
Kanyadan. The bride's parents give her hand to the groom, a moment of deep emotion that entrusts their daughter to a new family.
Vivah Homa and Saptapadi. The couple takes seven steps (saptapadi) around the sacred fire, each step a vow for their shared life. The groom ties the mangalsutra, and applies kunku in the bride's hair parting.
After the ceremony
Lajahoma and Karmasampatti. Further rites around the fire complete the sacrament.
Varat and Griha Pravesh. The bride is given a warm send-off (varat) and welcomed into her new home, where she traditionally tips a measure of rice at the threshold before stepping in with her right foot.
Reception. Family and friends gather to bless the newlyweds and share a meal - often the famous Maharashtrian wedding spread with jilebi, masale bhaat, and shrikhand puri.
The spirit behind the rituals
What makes a Marathi wedding special is not grandeur but intention. Each ritual carries a meaning - respect for elders, gratitude to family, and vows taken seriously before fire and loved ones. Even as celebrations modernise, most Marathi families hold on to the antarpat moment, the Mangalashtaka, and the saptapadi, because they capture the heart of what a marriage is meant to be.
Whether your wedding will be a traditional affair or a simpler one, understanding these customs helps both families share the day with the same joy and meaning.