13/05/2025
Halad Chadavane
The Halad Chadavane ceremony is a joyous event filled with the scent of sandalwood and the colourful decor of orange marigolds. In Maharashtrian culture, it is a wedding tradition to bring together family and close friends for a fun and intimate celebration. Before this ceremony, the bride's family hosts the Muhurt Karane ritual, where five married women are invited to assist with wedding preparations. Known as 'suhasinis', these women perform tasks like preparing powder and rolling papads. The turmeric powder is then combined with oil, milk, sandalwood, rose water and gram flour to create a paste. Traditionally, separate ceremonies are held for the groom and bride. The groom's family applies the paste on his body using mango leaves before sending any leftover haldi or Ushti Halad to the bride's home for her face and body application. In some weddings, couples opt for a Halad Chadavane, where they smear haldi on their foreheads, shoulders, hands and feet, symbolising physical purification and spiritual cleansing. The Halad Chadavane ceremony holds a place in our hearts as it combines tradition with joy. As the elders bless the couple, the younger family members and friends engage in antics with the haldi, trying to smear it on each other
Pre-Wedding Rituals: Sakhar Puda: Kelvan: Halad Chadavane: Chura: Ganpati Puja, Devdevak and Gurihar Puja: Punyavachan and Seemanpuja: his is the engagement ceremony where the groom's family formally accepts the bride and exchanges gifts like sarees, sweets (Sakhar), and rings, according to RVD Matr