Marathi (Maharashtrian Hindu) wedding ceremonies, in order

Sakhar Puda साखरपुडा

6+ Months Before

The engagement ceremony with the exchange of sugar and blessings

Sakhar Puda is the traditional Maharashtrian engagement ceremony and one of the most anticipated pre-wedding rituals. The word combines 'Sakhar' (sugar) and 'Puda' (packet), referring to the decorated sugar packet the groom's family presents to the bride. The box is typically a beautifully decorated conical container embellished with mirrors, beads, and ribbons.

During the ceremony, the groom's mother applies haldi-kumkum on the bride's forehead and presents her with sarees and jewelry, symbolizing acceptance into the family. The bride's family gifts the groom a coconut, a gold or silver coin, and clothes. The couple then exchanges rings as the formal engagement.

A traditional Maharashtrian feast follows, featuring Shira Bhaat (sweet semolina with rice) and Kurma Puri (spiced curry with fried bread). A cultural program with traditional Marathi songs may also be organized.

The tradition dates back over 800 years to the Yadava dynasty and was refined during the Maratha empire. It embodies the belief that marriage should bring sweetness, prosperity, and harmony to both families.

In LaddoThis: a Sakhar Puda checklist with 12 tasks, 8 of them things to buy or prepare.

Muhurt Karane मुहूर्त करणे

1-2 Months Before

Five married women prepare the turmeric and wedding snacks

Muhurt Karane marks the official beginning of wedding preparations in a Maharashtrian household. The bride's mother invites five Suvasini (happily married women) to the home to perform this auspicious ritual, typically held about a month before the wedding.

The centerpiece of the ceremony is the pounding of dried turmeric (Halkund) into fine powder. An iron pestle, tied with fresh mango leaves for auspiciousness, is used to pound the turmeric in an iron mortar. Each Suvasini takes a turn, transforming the raw turmeric into the golden powder that will later be used in the Halad Chadavane (Haldi) ceremony.

After the turmeric preparation, the women come together to roll out papads and prepare sandage — tiny balls made from ground soaked dals mixed with spices, which are then sun-dried. These traditional snacks are prepared collectively, turning the preparation into a festive communal activity.

The ceremony reflects the deep-rooted Maharashtrian values of community and collective support, as the women rally around the bride's family to help with wedding preparations.

In LaddoThis: a Muhurt Karane checklist with 7 tasks, 5 of them things to buy or prepare.

Kelvan केळवण

3-5 Days Before

The pre-wedding feast with prayers to the family deity

Kelvan is one of the most cherished pre-wedding rituals in a Maharashtrian wedding, typically held two to three days before the wedding day. Both the bride's and groom's families organize their own Kelvan celebrations.

The ceremony begins with a puja to the family's Kuldevta (ancestral deity), seeking blessings for the couple's happy and prosperous married life. The priest leads the prayers while family members offer flowers, rice, and incense to invoke the deity's presence.

Following the puja, the families sit down together for a grand Maharashtrian feast. This meal is as much about bonding as it is about celebration — it provides an opportunity for both extended families to get to know each other in a relaxed, joyful setting. The food features traditional Maharashtrian delicacies, often including puran poli, shrikhand, aamti, varan bhaat, and a full thali.

In many families, the Kelvan is also the occasion where relatives from distant places arrive and are formally welcomed, making it a warm reunion of the extended clan.

In LaddoThis: a Kelvan checklist with 9 tasks, 5 of them things to buy or prepare.

Halad Chadavane हळद चढवणे

3-5 Days Before

The turmeric ceremony for purification and glow

Halad Chadavane is the Maharashtrian Haldi ceremony, a joyous pre-wedding event filled with the scent of sandalwood and surrounded by the vibrant orange of marigold decorations. The same five Suvasini (married women) who participated in the Muhurt Karane ceremony lead this ritual.

The ceremony takes place first at the groom's home. The Suvasini apply the turmeric paste — prepared from the same turmeric pounded during Muhurt Karane — to the groom's head, shoulders, hands, and feet using mango leaves. The leftover turmeric paste is then sent to the bride's home, where the same process is repeated on the bride.

This tradition of sending the turmeric from the groom's home to the bride's is a distinctive Maharashtrian custom, symbolizing the connection between the two families even before the wedding ceremony. The bride or groom sits on a Bajoth (low wooden seat) while relatives take turns applying the paste, accompanied by music, laughter, and dancing.

After the application, the bride and groom take a ritualistic bath to wash off the turmeric, emerging refreshed and glowing for the wedding day.

In LaddoThis: a Halad Chadavane checklist with 11 tasks, 9 of them things to buy or prepare.

Mehndi मेहंदी

3-5 Days Before

The henna ceremony with music and celebration

The Mehndi ceremony is held at the bride's home, typically two to three days before the wedding. It is a vibrant celebration where the women of both families come together for henna application, music, and festivities.

The bride receives the most elaborate mehndi designs on both hands and feet, with the groom's name or initials traditionally hidden within the intricate patterns. Close relatives and friends also have henna applied, though in simpler designs.

The atmosphere is lively and festive, with traditional Marathi songs, Bollywood music, and dance performances. Older women often sing traditional Marathi wedding folk songs (Mangalashtak and Ukhane) while the younger generation organizes choreographed performances.

In modern Maharashtrian weddings, the Mehndi ceremony has become a major social event with themed decorations, professional DJs, and elaborate catering, though many families still prefer the intimate, home-based celebration.

In LaddoThis: a Mehndi checklist with 8 tasks, 2 of them things to buy or prepare.

Simant Puja & Dev Devak सीमांत पूजा

1-2 Days Before

Boundary worship and inviting the family deity to the wedding

Simant Puja and Dev Devak are performed on the day before or the morning of the wedding, marking the spiritual commencement of the marriage celebrations.

Simant Puja (literally 'boundary worship') was traditionally performed when the groom crossed the border of the bride's village. In modern times, it is performed at a temple or at the wedding venue. During the Simant Puja, the bride's mother washes the groom's feet, applies tilak on his forehead, performs his aarti, and feeds him sweets, formally welcoming him.

Dev Devak is the ritual of inviting the family deity (Kuldevta) to the wedding mandap. Both families perform this at their respective homes. A Ganapati Sthapana (installation of Lord Ganesha's idol) is done first, seeking the blessing of the remover of obstacles. Then the Kuldevta is invoked and invited to witness the wedding and bless the couple.

The doorways are decorated with mango leaf torans and fresh flowers. The home is purified with prayer and incense, creating a sacred atmosphere for the wedding ceremonies to follow.

In LaddoThis: a Simant Puja & Dev Devak checklist with 11 tasks, 9 of them things to buy or prepare.

Gaurihar Puja गौरीहर पूजा

Wedding Day

The bride worships Goddess Parvati before the wedding

Gaurihar Puja is a deeply spiritual ceremony performed by the bride on the wedding day, before the main mandap rituals begin. Dressed in her full bridal attire — the traditional Nauvari (nine-yard) or Paithani saree gifted by her maternal uncle — the bride worships a silver idol of Goddess Gauri (Parvati), the consort of Lord Shiva and the epitome of marital devotion.

The bride applies kumkum and haldi to the idol, offers flowers and rice, and prays for a prosperous and happy married life. The rice offered to the Goddess symbolizes fertility and abundance. Her maternal uncle plays an important role by providing the rice used in the offering.

This is also the moment when the bride is fully adorned in her traditional Maharashtrian bridal look — the Mundavalya (pearl strings across the forehead), green glass bangles, Kolhapuri Saaj (gold necklace with twenty-one leaf-shaped pendants), Thushi (choker), Nath (nose ring), and the signature moon-shaped bindi.

The silver Gauri idol is later carried by the groom during the Varat (farewell procession), symbolizing the bride's devotion traveling with her to her new home.

In LaddoThis: a Gaurihar Puja checklist with 12 tasks, 11 of them things to buy or prepare.

Varat & Dwar Puja वरात आणि द्वारपूजा

Wedding Day

The groom's procession and ceremonial welcome at the venue

The Varat is the groom's festive procession to the wedding venue, accompanied by the energetic beats of Dhol-Tasha (large drums and cymbals) and Lezim dancers — a distinctly Maharashtrian form of folk performance with jingling metallic instruments. The groom, adorned in a traditional Kurta-Dhoti or Sherwani with the iconic Pheta (Marathi turban) and Mundavalya (pearl forehead strings), dances through the streets to the venue.

Upon arrival at the venue, the Dwar Puja (door worship) takes place. 'Dwar' means door in Marathi, and this ceremony symbolizes the bride's family formally welcoming the groom to their threshold. The bride's mother performs the aarti, applies tilak (vermillion mark) on the groom's forehead, and feeds him sweets. This ritual signifies the acceptance and welcoming of the groom into the bride's family.

The procession is one of the most colorful and energetic parts of a Maharashtrian wedding. The Dhol-Tasha pathak (troupe) is a hallmark of Maharashtrian celebrations, with the powerful rhythms creating an infectious, celebratory atmosphere.

In LaddoThis: a Varat & Dwar Puja checklist with 11 tasks, 8 of them things to buy or prepare.

Punyavachan & Sankalp पुण्यवाचन

Wedding Day

Purification of the venue and the couple's sacred resolve

Punyavachan and Sankalp are the opening rituals of the main wedding ceremony, setting the sacred tone for everything that follows.

Punyavachan is the ritual of purification — making the couple, the mandap, and the surroundings spiritually pure before any Vedic rites can begin. The priest chants mantras and sprinkles holy water (Gangajal), purifying the space. The bride's parents bring her to the mandap and ask all assembled guests to bless their daughter.

Sankalp follows immediately, where the couple makes their sacred resolve to enter into marriage. The priest guides them through the declaration of their intention to marry, invoking the names of their ancestors, the current date and time (tithi), the lunar position, and the names of the presiding deities. This formal declaration establishes the spiritual framework within which all subsequent rituals take place.

These ceremonies may seem brief, but they are foundational — without the Punyavachan and Sankalp, the marriage rituals that follow would not carry their full Vedic authority.

In LaddoThis: a Punyavachan & Sankalp checklist with 6 tasks, 4 of them things to buy or prepare.

Antarpat & Mangalashtak अंतरपाट

Wedding Day

The curtain drop reveal and the eight auspicious verses

The Antarpat and Mangalashtak together form the most dramatic moment of a Maharashtrian wedding.

The Antarpat is an auspicious silk cloth, often marked with a swastika, held as a curtain between the bride and groom, blocking their view of each other. They sit facing each other on either side of the sacred fire, with family members holding the Antarpat between them.

As the cloth is held in place, relatives from both sides chant the Mangalashtak — eight sacred Vedic verses invoking blessings for the couple's happiness, prosperity, and harmony. 'Mangal' means auspicious and 'Ashtak' means eightfold. While the shlokas are chanted, guests shower Jodha Akshata (rice mixed with turmeric and vermillion) on the couple.

At the climactic moment, as the final verse is chanted, the Antarpat is dropped — and the bride and groom see each other for the first time in their full wedding attire. This is followed by the Var-Mala (garland exchange), where the couple places flower garlands around each other's necks, officially accepting each other.

The Antarpat drop is the single most photographed moment of the entire Maharashtrian wedding.

In LaddoThis: a Antarpat & Mangalashtak checklist with 6 tasks, 5 of them things to buy or prepare.

Kanya Daan & Saptapadi कन्यादान

Wedding Day

The father gives away the bride, and the couple takes seven sacred steps

Kanya Daan and Saptapadi are the most sacred and legally binding rituals of the Maharashtrian wedding.

Kanya Daan is when the bride's father places her right hand in the groom's, formally entrusting his daughter to her husband. He pours sacred water through the joined hands while the priest chants mantras, asking the groom to care for his daughter through Dharma (duty), Artha (prosperity), and Kama (love). This is widely considered the most emotional moment for the bride's family.

The groom then ties the Mangalsutra — a sacred necklace of black and gold beads — around the bride's neck and applies Sindoor (vermillion) to the parting of her hair. These are the primary symbols of marriage in Hindu tradition.

The Saptapadi follows — seven sacred steps around the Agni (sacred fire). In Maharashtrian tradition, the bride touches seven small stones or betel nuts in a line with her right toe as the couple recites the seven vows. Each step represents a promise: nourishment, strength, prosperity, happiness, progeny, long life, and eternal friendship.

With the seventh step, the marriage is considered complete and irrevocable under Hindu tradition.

In LaddoThis: a Kanya Daan & Saptapadi checklist with 9 tasks, 9 of them things to buy or prepare.

Karmasamapti कर्मसमाप्ती

Wedding Day

Conclusion of mandap rituals with blessings and the bride's new name

Karmasamapti marks the formal conclusion of all mandap rituals in a Maharashtrian wedding. The word literally means 'completion of rites.'

The couple offers final prayers to Goddess Laxmi, the deity of prosperity, until the sacred fire is extinguished. The groom then performs a meaningful tradition — he gives the bride a new name, symbolizing the beginning of her new identity as part of his family.

To add a lighthearted moment to this solemn occasion, the bride's brother playfully twists the groom's ear and teasingly reminds him of his marital duties toward his sister. This humorous ritual, called 'kan-pikachi' breaks the intense emotional atmosphere of the ceremony and brings laughter to all assembled.

The couple feeds each other sweets as their first act together as husband and wife, and elders from both families come forward to bless the newly married couple. Karmasamapti signals that the sacred portion of the wedding is complete, and the celebrations can begin.

In LaddoThis: a Karmasamapti checklist with 3 tasks, 3 of them things to buy or prepare.

Varat (Bidaai) वरात (निरोप)

Wedding Day

The bride's emotional farewell from her parental home

The Varat (or Bidaai in North Indian terminology) is the emotional farewell ceremony where the bride leaves her parental home to begin her new life with her husband. It is one of the most poignant moments of the entire wedding.

As the bride prepares to leave, she throws rice grains backward over her head — symbolizing her repayment of her parents' love, sacrifice, and the prosperity she has brought to their home. Her mother catches the rice in her saree pallu, representing continued abundance for the family even after the daughter's departure.

A distinctive Maharashtrian element is that the groom carries the silver Gauri (Parvati) idol that the bride worshipped during the Gaurihar Puja. This symbolizes the bride's devotion and the divine feminine energy traveling with the couple to their new home.

The bride is accompanied by her Rukhwat — a collection of household items, handmade crafts, paintings, embroidered linens, and the bride's culinary creations that demonstrate her abilities and her family's heritage. The Rukhwat is a uniquely Maharashtrian tradition that showcases the bride's skills and readiness to manage her new household.

In LaddoThis: a Varat (Bidaai) checklist with 6 tasks, 4 of them things to buy or prepare.

Grihapravesh गृहप्रवेश

Post-Wedding

The bride enters her new home as Goddess Lakshmi

Grihapravesh is the joyful ceremony welcoming the bride into her new home at the groom's house. It is one of the most heartwarming post-wedding traditions in Maharashtrian culture.

The groom's mother leads the welcome, performing the Grihapravesh Aarti for the couple at the entrance of the home. She then washes the couple's feet with milk and water — a gesture of reverence and purification.

A Kalash (traditional pot) filled with rice grains is placed at the threshold of the doorway. The bride gently kicks the Kalash over with her right foot, spilling the rice inward into the home. This act symbolizes the bride — regarded as an embodiment of Goddess Lakshmi — bringing prosperity and abundance into her new household.

The couple then enters the home stepping with their right foot first, as is the Hindu tradition for auspicious beginnings. Inside, they are greeted by the rest of the family with blessings, sweets, and celebrations.

In LaddoThis: a Grihapravesh checklist with 5 tasks, 4 of them things to buy or prepare.

Reception स्वागत समारंभ

Post-Wedding

The grand celebration hosted by the groom's family

The Reception is the grand social celebration hosted by the groom's family, typically held on the evening of the wedding day or the day after. It brings together the wider circle of friends, colleagues, and extended family who may not have attended the intimate ceremonies.

The newlywed couple is seated on a decorated stage where guests come to bless them and offer gifts. The evening features a multi-course feast — often a mix of traditional Maharashtrian dishes (Varan Bhaat, Puran Poli, Shrikhand, Batata Bhaji) alongside contemporary cuisine.

Modern Maharashtrian receptions include the couple's first dance, cake cutting, speeches from family and friends, and a mix of Marathi, Bollywood, and contemporary music. Some families also organize a brief cultural program with performances.

The Reception marks the public celebration of the union and is where the couple begins their married life surrounded by the blessings and well-wishes of their entire community.

In LaddoThis: a Reception checklist with 9 tasks, 4 of them things to buy or prepare.