| Manpan
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The
bride's mother does oti bharane and gives saris to the
groom's mother, sisters/sister-in-laws. Bride's father
gives gifts like pant-shirt piece to the groom's father
and brothers/brother-in-laws. Similarly, groom's parents
give gifts to the bride's family. In tond dhune, the
bride's mother gives a sari and a jewellery piece like
motyache tode or a gold ring or a pearl string to the
groom's mother along with a tea-set etc. In vyahi bhet,
bride's father gives a silver glass to the groom's father.
The tond dhune and vyahi bhet are generally performed next
day morning and are optional. |
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| Lunch
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If
the Lagna muhurt is in the morning, there is a lunch party
and a reception may be held in the evening. If the
Lagnamuhurt falls in the evening, then the dinner party
combines with the reception.
The groom's side is first invited for lunch after which
other invitees follow. Bride's parents personally look
after each and every guest. Also the bridal couple meets
each guest during lunch and often serves sweets like
bundicha ladoo or jilebi. The guest may insist that the
bridal couple take each other's name in verses - nav ghene.
When bridal couple, groom's parents and karvalis sit for
lunch, bride's mother and other suvasinis perform arati of
the couple and groom's parents and karvalis. Amidst a lot
of fun and laughter, the bride feeds the groom a morsel of
sweet and takes his name in verses and vice-versa. After
meal there is lavangtod - another humorous ritual wherein
the bride holds a clove between her teeth and the groom
cuts it with his teeth. |
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| Reception
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The
bride wears shalu - jari brocaded silk sari given by the
groom's side and jewellery while the groom wears suit
given by the bride's side. Guests greet, bless or give
good wishes to the couple along with the wedding gifts. A
feast is organised for the guests. Close relatives and
friends are given return gifts. The bridal couple with
their families sit together for the meal and share joy and
happiness of the occasion. |
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| Varat
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The
ultimate emotional scene of the entire ceremony is when
the bride is bid a goodbye. The groom picks up the silver
idol of parvati that is still sitting on gaurihar. The
couple touch the feet of elders and the bride meets with
all family members who give her a tearful hug. The couple
sits in a vehicle and the procession, with a band and
fireworks, goes to the groom's place. |
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| Grihpravesh
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The
couple comes to the doorstep and the groom's mother does
arati of the couple. The bride topples map - a measuring
vessel - filled with rice. It signifies that this bride -
a Lakshmi - will bring so much luck that prosperity will
flow in the house like the rice flowing out of the toppled
vessel. A white sheet is spread in front of the couple and
the bride dips her feet in a thali filled with a watery
kumkum paste and places it on the sheet. These are
considered Lakshmi's steps.
The couple sits and the groom places the silver idol of
Parvati that he carried and places it in a plate of rice
and writes the bride's new name. The groom's mother does
oti bharane of the bride. The groom's mother sits between
the couple and sees the bride's face in the mirror - this
is called soonmukh baghane. The couple gives sugar to all
present and they have to take names in verses several
times. |
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| Suhagrat
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The
couple retires to a decorated room with a bed bedecked in
flower, to consummate the marriage. The bride takes glass
of warm milk for the groom and awaits him. The young
relatives tease the groom to heighten the excitement and
send him into the room. |
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| Halad
Utaravane : |
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Next
day morning, five suvasinis do the same as halad
chadhavane but in reverse order. This is to signify that
now the couple is free to go out. The groom mother unties
kankan - halkund tied on the couple's hand. |
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| Tikhati
Mejwani : |
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Among
non-vegetarian Maharashtrians, especially CKP community, a
non-veg feast is organised at both the quarters separately
for the close relatives within a day or two. Typically,
the main dish is mutton-vade or mutton biryani and the
liquor may be served before the food. In olden days, even
women used to sip liquor from small silver bowls and was
funnily called nathi vagdya karane i.e. to take aside nose
rings to facilitate the sips. |
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