Planning for the Big Day

Marriages are considered to be a celebration of life. But they can only be memorable, if every aspect of the ceremony and celebrations goes off without a hitch. Archana Mahajan assembles a handy list of dos and don’ts to ensure that confusion and chaos don’t ruin that perfect evening.

Making arrangements is a pains-taking task. The planning has to start at least two to five months before the ceremony, with the choice and booking of the venue. This is the first step one should take when planning the wedding.

“HI PORI MAHARASHTRA CHI…”

Marriages in Maharashtra are very similar in tradition to Hindu marriages. Still, there are certain rites and rituals that distinguish the marriage ceremonies performed in this part of Western India, as Archana Mahajan discovers.

A Maharashtrian wedding has all the trappings and traditions of a typical Hindu wedding.

Weddings in Maharashtra spell hope and joy for everyone involved. For the families of the couple, the day is the fruition of months of planning, buying and great care is taken to make sure that elders are respected and proprieties are followed. The wedding is hosted by the family of the bride who consults the groom and his family about any special preferences. Though each community within Maharashtrians follows slighty different traditions, all of them look forward to this day of merrymaking and feasting.

The Bindi, today is a fashion statement…It is derived from the Sanskrit word “Bindu” or a drop, and it is said to signify the mystic third eye of a person. Hence, when properly marked it, becomes the central point of the base of the creation itself. It is a symbol of auspiciousness, good fortune and festivity, Archana Mahajan finds out more about bindi.

The bindi is an adornment that lights up your face and gives it a focal point. Bindi, on the beloved’s forehead is supposed to mesmerise her lover.

Poets, through ages have composed couplets on the beautiful bindiya of the damsel. The bindi still attracts a lot of attention, as it is the first object that catches our eye. This little dot has always received a place of importance in Indian customs. The bindi carries with it a wealth of meaning and is an on-going link with a very ancient tradition and past.