IS

Marriage Costume
of
Maharashtra
 MAHARASHTRA
• Maharashtra is a state in the western peninsular region of India occupying a
substantial portion of the Deccan plateau. It is the second-most populous
state and third-largest state by area in India.
• Maharashtra is the wealthiest state by all major economic parameters and
also the most industrialized state in India.
• Maharashtra has a vast textile history, which has contributed to its rich
variety of costumes. Pune, Paithan and Kolhapur are some of the ideal
places to shop for typical Maharashtrian clothing.
 Traditional Maharashtrian Attire
• Traditionally, Marathi women commonly wore the sari.
Most middle aged and old women traditionally wore
nauvari or nine-yard saree or lugade.
• In urban areas, the five-yard sari, especially the
Paithani, is worn by younger women for special
occasions such as marriages and religious ceremonies.
• Women wear traditional jewelries derived from Maratha
and Peshwa dynasties. Kolhapuri saaj, a special type
of necklace, is also worn by Marathi women.
• Men also wear traditional costumes such as
the dhoti, and pheta on cultural occasions. The
Gandhi cap is the popular headgear among
older men in rural Maharashtra. The Kurta
is worn by men on special occasions.
• The dhoti and shirt is a very popular costume
of men. The typical Maratha dhoti is made
from cotton cloth, and generally varies from 2.5
to 3 meters in length. The headdress is freshly
folded turban known as pheta, or a folded cap.
 Maharashtrian Wedding
• Maharashtrian marriage is perhaps the most plain sailing and the least
grandiose in the whole country. Yet it is not to be mistaken as a drab and
formal affair.
• Marathi weddings are full of colors and fun rituals that are sure to spice the
whole event.
• Colorful flowers, lights, rangoli and décor with intricate and beautiful patterns
and wedding guests’ chatter, lip-smacking food platter make up the pulse and
spirit of Marathi matrimony.
Traditional Bride
of
Maharashtra
 • The bride wears silk saree with elaborate
gold borders in bright colors in typical
Maharashtrian trouser like style.
• The preferred color combinations are yellow
or marigold with green or purple borders.
• The saree can either be Paithani
measuring around 6 yards or they can be
very Traditional Nauvarisarees measuring
9 yards.
 Jewellery
The Maharshtrian bride wears some typical jewelry
elements – like green glass bangles or Choodas,
mangalsutras with two hollow gold cups at the centers,
Thusi or traditional necklaces, the typical
Maharshtriannath and Vaaki or armlets. The
typically Maharshtrian moon-shaped bindi is placed
on her forhead.
Nath
Woven with pearls, a nath
has pink or white stone in the
middle. This nose ornament is
typical and unique of
traditional Maharashtrian
jewellery and is different from
other nose pins worn by
Indian brides.
Thushi
A 22-carat gold choker style
neckpiece, Thushi is a part of bridal
jewellery that originated in
Kolhapur. It comes with gold
beads and comes with an adjustable
dori. The jowar gold seeds in it
indicate that the bride’s new home
will always be blessed with food.
Kolhapuri Saaj
This traditional
Maharashtrian jewellery is a
long necklace that has 21
leaves carved. The Kolhapuri
Saaj depicts 10 avatars of
Lord Vishnu.
Putli Haar
In a putli haar a few round gold
coins are stringed together on a
silk braided patwa cord. The coins
have Lakshmi motifs, which
symbolises the goddess of wealth.
Putli Haar has been an integral
part of Maharashtrian bridal
jewellery since the 17th century.
Mangalsutra
It is a strands of black and gold
beads. A mangalsutra is a symbol
of marriage. It is believed that
the black beads of a mangalsutra
are blessed with divine powers to
protect the married couple.
 Vaaki
An armband or baajuband it is
crafted with 23-carat gold wire
and embellished with stones.
While the ruby depicts the sun,
the red colour as always, is seen
auspicious for Hindu brides.
Kudya
In a Marathi bride’s ears,
you will see lovely ear cuffs
that are studded with pearls.
They can also be golden in
order to further beautify the
ears.
Chooda
The chooda worn by a
Maharashtrian bride is
green bangles in glass, and
not red. Green is a symbol of
fertility for the bride. They
are worn in odd numbers in
both the hands.
Mundavlya
A unisex ornament, Mundavlya
is worn by Marathi bride and
groom across their forehead. This
traditional Maharashtrian
jewellery is a string of pearls or
gold beads that frame the face.
Tode
Tode are 23-carat handmade gold
kadas of 250-300 gms each.
This ornament is interlinked
without any soldering. Looking
at the weight, these heavy bangles
almost take a month to be ready.
Jodvi
A jodvi or silver toe ring is
given to the bride by the
mother-in-law and symbolises
the bride’s entry into a new
household. It is a must for
any Marathi wedding.
 Makeup
A Maharashtrian bride is identified by her nose ring
and a half-moon like bindi. A Maharashtrian wedding
also requires the bride to wear lots of glass bangles,
while usually keeping the makeup simple and subtel,
yet elegant.
 Hairstyle
The traditional hairdo of a marathi bride is bun which can
be made in several ways. The centalized partitioned look is
preferred. Several variations can be made out of this.
The bun is then adorn with a gajra and a ambada veni
phool. Brides also wear mangtika to enhance their
hairstyle.
 Traditional Attire of Groom
The Maharashtrian groom traditionally wears an understated
white or beige cotton kurta paired with a white Kanche or
Dhoti with a thin border for the wedding. They take a
decorative piece of cloth on their shoulders generally red or
gold in color. They may wear a turban known as pheta on
their head or wear the traditional white Gandhi style cap.
 Modern Influence on a Maharashtrian
Wedding
Simple yet graceful; vibrant yet elegant - a Maharashtrian wedding
has flavours of culture, traditions as well as fun and playfulness. There
is no such drastic modern influence on a Maharastrian wedding.
However, people have a fusion for their own Marathi wedding by
blending traditional and modern values together. Like, they go for an
exotic location wedding yet follow all the ritual.
 Bibliography
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maharashtra
• Public Broadcasting System, USA (2008). The story of India –
history and culture
• https://www.weddingwire.in/wedding-tips/maharashtrian-wedding--c754
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maharashtra/wedding/rituals
• https://www.google.com/search?q=maharashtrian+marriage+rituals
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Thank You