Jewels

Traditional Maharashtrian Jewelry is inspired from the jewels of Maratha Peshwa Dynasty and has uniquely crafted jewelry pieces. Many of these pieces are made in Kolhapur. The most famous ornaments are- 
Lakshimi Haar,Chapla Haar,Moongachi Maal,Ghalsari,Kothameerchi maal and Rudraksha Maal.

Along with,
Kawari nath 
This is famous in Kokan and Western Maharashtra.It is usually studded with Basra moti,ruby and emerald in gold. 

Gulsari 
Is a choker necklace made from one wire of gold. 

Vajratik 
This is a blend of Jondhale Mani beads is the shape of a Jawari grain. 

Belpan Vajratik 
Bilva-Patra ( bel tree leaf) is a sacred leaf and is worshiped as a symbol of Lord Shiva. The necklace is inspired from that. 

Mohan Mala 
Is a long necklace made from several layers of gold bead chain strings along with a sun pendant. It varies from 2-12 layers.

 

Surya Haar This has a motif of sun rays.

Kolhapuri SaazThis is often used as a Mangalsutra. It is made of beads and different designs of leaves. It typically has a Masa (fish) , Kamal(lotus),Karle(bitter gourd), Chandra(moon),Bel paan,Shankha(conch),Naag(snake),Kesav(tortoise), Bhunga (bumble bee),Waagh Nakh(Nail of tiger),Taviz,Red and Green Panadi,Kirti Mukh(opposite each other).

Jondhali Mani Haar It depicts lord Vishnu resting on a seven headed serpent named "Sheshnaag".

Champakali HaarThis is a flower themed necklace and looks like a flower garland. 

ThushiIt is a choker necklace,made with closely bound round gold beads. 

Putli Haar It is decorated with intricate carvings of Ram and Seeta.

Chinchpeti HaarIt is a choker made with a combination of Kirti Mukh and Matsya Print. 
It protects the wearer from negativity. 

Chandan HaarThese are 3-4 chains attached together to form a necklace.

 

AmbadaA bun pin. 

Bangles Patlya are two broad bangles,Bangdya are four simple bangles and Gahu Tode are two delicately carved thick bangles. 

Earrings 
Kundan earrings  and pearl earrings are the most popular. 

Bhik BaliThese are men's earrings,which are worn on the top of the ear. 

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Interviews

I took these interviews from my relatives in Pune. I had two basic questions. How do they celebrate the  wedding and what is the sequence?

MEGHNA APTE MUDKAVI

"The wedding season here is mostly in december and the weddings happen during the day. We call the wedding 'Lagna' here. I'll talk about how we celebrated my marriage and the sequence of it. So basically,the wedding began with a Ganpati Puja. Me and my husband had a love marriage,so everything we planned was decided by us and we kept it simple. The wedding cards were printed after our engagement,that we refer to as the Sakhar puda,which tied us officially together. We went for a kuldevi Puja thereafter. We then had the Kelvan,Halad Chadavane,Seeman Pujan before the wedding day.
After these ceremonies that we had together,me and my husband were not allowed to see each other until the wedding day. then we had the Antarpat,Sankalp and Kanyadan. After which we officially were declared Man and Wife. I wore a blue-Green Sari and my husband had a similar sherwani. I wore minimal jewellery and of course we both had the Mundavalya,a string of pearls on our head.
The entire family comes together for the wedding,but it is also very simple and is more of quality family time with real fun and no unnecessary wastage of either money or food."

ABHIRAJ PURANDARE 

"As you have told me that you've mentioned mostly everything on your blog and I read it and realised that you've covered most aspects,I'll tell you some things that are different from north Indian weddings and how they happened in mine.
Beyond the engagement,seeman pujan,kelvan, we have no ceremony for the mehendi as such,though the bride does get some henna patterns on her hands made prior to the wedding. A major event in the Maharashtrian wedding ceremony is the Seema-Anta Poojan. Seema means “City Limits” Anta means end and ‘poojan’ stands for prayers. In olden days, the groom usually lived in a different city from that of the bride’s. He and his family travelled to the bride’s city for the occasion. The bride’s family went to the city limits to welcome this procession. A coconut is broken and sweets were distributed among the wedding guests. This tradition is still carried out today, though one does not go as far as hosting it at the city limits, but in regular banquet/marriage halls instead.The mangalsutra that the bride wears is also very traditional. There are golden and black beads along with two inverted tiny gold cup like pendants in the centre of the mangalsutra. The sarre that bride wears is a silk sarre called Paithan. Or ofcourse then there is the Navari,which is a 9 yard sarre.She wears a nath in her nose and a simple gold neclace,bajuband and earrings along with green bangle chuda. The groom usually wears a kurti or sherwani with a dhoti.I wore a white sherwani and dhoti while my wife wore a yellow and green paithan. All through the ceremony, there are various symbolic and meaningful events held.  There is one ‘fun event’ where the bride’s brother playfully twists the groom’s ear, saying he will repent if he does not take care of his sister. The groom has to then promise to do so and only then is he relieved of the pain! I'm telling you that hurt my ear!! I sat on an elephant and came to the venue and wore a white sherwani. That is basically how we celebrate the wedding and the proceedings. "

Man And Wife!

KANYADAN is considered to be biggest and most emotional moment of the entire ceremony. In this ceremony the bride's parents hand over their beloved daughter to the groom. The bride meets all her relatives and sheds tears upon the separation of her from her family. Then she is made to sit in a decorated car besides the groom. Coins are tossed over the car while the father gently pushes the moving car out of the home. 

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GRIHAPRAVESH this is the first ritual after the bride reaches her husbands home.The groom's mother uses a decorative plate or thali with a diya lit and kum kum and turmeric to take out bad luck from the bride and groom. After which the bride stamps her hands stained with turmeric paste on the entrance wall. She lifts her henna'd feet to gently push a vessel filled with rice grains and mango leaves and flowers after which she puts her feet into a shallow bowl of red kum kum and walks with the stained feet into her new home. 

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RECEPTION The groom's family throws a lavish feast for both parties present at the wedding. 

Wedding Bells

At last,a white cloth called a Antarpat marked with a swastik is held between the couple. The bride is brought up-to the dais by her mama or the maternal uncle. After which eight blessings or Mangalashtaks are recited. When the recitation is over, the Antarpat is removed amidst the gathering of friends and relatives followed by a crescendo of Shehnais. The bride and groom exchange garlands. 

 

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 After this the bride and groom sit down around a havan kund,where  a holy fire is lit with scared wood amongst the chanting of hymns, the fire is considered the chief witness of the ceremony. The bride and groom press their head against a coconut to begin the ceremony. The havan represents the universe. The seven pheras or saptapadi are taken promising each other loyalty,sharing,auspiciousness, housekeeping,hospitality,elder care,and progeny. The bride is then made to wear a mangalsutra,which is a black beaded necklace by the groom. And sindoor is applied to her forehead with a silver coin. The bridal couple wears a floral or decorative mundavali which dangle around their face. 

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Wedding Rituals

                           GANESH PUJA 

This is the first puja of the wedding rituals. Lord Ganesha is invited by offeringbetel nut and a handful of rice grains.  Sweets,clothes and the wedding card is offered to Lord Ganesha ,seeking his blessing for the marriage. 


CHUDA 

The bride's friends and female relatives call a bangle seller at home. From which all married women chose green bangles,and the unmarried ones chose colors other than green. The bride is given green bangles interspersed with pearl,gold,silver or diamond bangles. Their is a specific way of wearing the chuda,which the bride's mother guides her. This is called tode. Green color is colored auspicious because it is the color of new life,creativity and rejuvenation. The bride can remove the bangles after one month of the marriage but also has to wear green bangles on all auspicious occasions. 

     
        MUHURTA PATRA 

     
This is when the actual marriage ceremony begins. This measures the time before the auspicious moment of the marriage. Each falling drop of water counts seconds while the bride gets ready in a yellow or green sari with a half moon painted on her forehead,worships Parvati,the goddess of martial bliss. Meanwhile the groom is honoured by the bride's parents. At this moment a humorous part takes place, the bride with an umbrella and a cloth pouch ,prepares to go on a pilgrimage to Kashi and the would-be- father in law dissuades him to do so and marry his daughter.  

Pre Wedding Rituals

1.Sakhar Puda is the initial
ritual which takes place in a Maharashtrian wedding,it is the engagement procedure. The bride is gifted a sari and sweet/sugar ( sakhar puda)by the groom's family.The bride's arms are adorned with green bangles,which is a sign of a married woman. The invitation cards are printed after this ceremony.

2.Kelvan Ceremony  is organised at both the bride and groom's house. Its a feast organised by both sides for the entire family gathered. The ceremony begins by a small puja of the Kuldevta.Every Maharashtrian family has a deity which ties the family to the ancestors or the village. During the pooja the ancestors portraits are offered new clothes,flowers and sweets. This ceremony is also known as the wang nishay.

3. Haldi Chadawat/Halad Chadavane this ceremony takes place in the respective homes of the bride and bridegroom. The women get together at each family and to apply a mixture of turmeric,sandalwood and cream of milk to the face and body of the bride or groom.Mango leaves are immersed in the paste and are applied from the feet upwards.They are adorned in yellow clothes and after the haldi they take a bath forthwith they are not allowed to move outside the house.

4.Simant Puja after the haldi ceremony the groom's family arrives at the bride's home and her parents wash the groom's feet and offer gifts.

Maharashtrian Wedding - About

Maharashtrian weddings emphasise on sacraments. They are the least opulent yet elegant. Maharashtrians are Hindus and therefore most rituals of the marriage follow the marriage proceedings of a normal Hindu Marriage. The Maharashtrians are a community brought together by Chatrapati Shivaji. As.As they are believers of
lord Ganesha,they begin the marriage rituals by making the bride and groom do a Pooja of Lord Ganesha and their Kul devi. Most of the wedding rituals start in the morning. The procedure starts with selecting a suitable partner for either the daughter or son also known as Lagnaach Bedi. After which the horoscope of the bride and groom are matched by priest. An auspicious time for the wedding is arranged. Forthwith,the wedding proceedings are carried out. 

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