Most weddings in India are about grand celebrations involving fun, food, and frolic. But there’s no denying that traditions form a major part of any Indian wedding. This is the same for Maharashtrian weddings as well. Every Maharashtrian wedding involves three sets of traditions that are observed before the marriage, during the marriage, and after the marriage.
Among the main post-marriage traditions, is the ritual of welcoming the Marathi bride into her new home. In essence, it is the effort that the in-laws extend to make a bride feel like a part of the family.
If you are planning to welcome a Marathi bride into your family, you need to be aware of the rituals that mark this significant aspect of a Maharashtrian wedding. Let’s take a look at how you can welcome a Marathi bride into her new home.
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Arrange a Grihapravesh Ceremony
When a Marathi bride bids adieu to her loved ones after she finds her match through Marathi Matrimony and starts on a new journey towards her new home, she is accompanied by not just her groom but other members of the groom’s marriage party as well.
They comprise a joyous procession and indulge in singing, dancing, loud music, and firecrackers. This is done to pep up the bride’s mood as she proceeds towards her groom’s home and a new life ahead, leaving behind her near and dear ones.
To welcome a Marathi bride into her new home, the first step is to arrange a Graha Pravesh ceremony. The word Griha pravesh is the combination of two words: Griha, which means home, and pravesh, which means entry. So, this ceremony is arranged in honor of the bride entering her new home for the first time.
It involves the groom’s mother performing Aarti for the newly married couple at the doorstep and inviting them to enter the home. A pot filled with rice grains is placed at the threshold of the home, and the bride is asked to step in after toppling this pot with her foot.
This ritual symbolizes that the bride brings with her a wave of good luck and prosperity. So much so that it will lead to an overflow of prosperity in the house, just as the rice grains flowed out of the toppled vessel. The bride is asked to cross the threshold and enter the home, putting her right foot forward.
Carry Out the Ritual of Suun Mukh Baghne
Suun Mukh Baghne is a part of the Marathi wedding traditions that the in-laws need to carry out after the Griha Pravesh of the newly married couple. The name of this ritual has three words in it, suun meaning daughter-in-law, mukh, meaning face, and baghne, meaning look.
This ritual signifies that the mother-in-law welcomes the bride as the daughter of the family rather than the daughter-in-law. To express this feeling, she takes a look at her daughter-in-law’s face in a mirror.
She then goes on to comb her daughter-in-law’s hair. In other words, her actions are carried out to indicate that she treats the bride as her daughter and is happy to look after her.
With this ceremony, the mother-in-law marks the beginning of a sweet relationship with the bride even as she tries to make her feel welcome and comfortable in her new home.
Organize a Wedding Reception
A reception marks the final stage of the celebrations in a Marathi wedding. The in-laws need to arrange a wedding reception to introduce the newly-wed bride to the groom’s family and friends.
While wedding receptions these days are taking on a modern turn, tradition demands that the bride dress up in a saree or an outfit gifted by her in-laws. Similarly, the groom needs to dress up in an outfit presented by the bride’s parents. Like the other rituals mentioned above, this ritual is also about making the bride feel at home by giving her gifts and making sure that she starts her new life on a happy note.
What are some beauty rituals and customs to welcome a Marathi bride into her new home, and how can they be respectfully observed?
Ans- Ordinary practices for welcoming a Marathi bride consolidate applying haldi and kumkum, presenting standard gifts, and offering favors for the woman’s thriving.
In Conclusion
A Marathi wedding is a fantastic blend of traditions, rituals, and merriment. On the one hand, it upholds the age-old traditions and ensures that everyone attending the marriage has a great time. On the other hand, it creates opportunities for the bride to warm up to her new home and in-laws and start feeling that she is a member of this new family.
If you are interested in bringing home a Marathi bride, you can easily begin your search by creating a profile and uploading it on a reliable and trusted matrimony app or website. Also, make sure to opt for a Marathi matrimonial app or site that offers services for a Marathi wedding. It will help you to come across suitable candidates for a perfect matrimonial alliance. Good luck as you begin this new chapter of your life!
