1. Kokanastha
Recently, although urbanization has picked up pace in Konkan and the associated issues are starting to be felt, the religious and family traditions are still largely upheld during wedding ceremonies in Konkan. Weddings that take place in the villages or clusters of Konkan are a great example of collective cooperation.
2. Kokanastha Brahmin
The Konkani villagers systematically divide various tasks such as setting up the mandap, cooking for the meal, or delivering invitations to surrounding villages where a wedding is taking place, and they carry them out seamlessly. Even Kokanastha Brahmin Girls and grooms also make marriage with simplicity.
3. Kokanastha Matrimony
On the day before the wedding, a ceremony such as an engagement or Haldi takes place in the courtyard of either the groom's or bride's house, and the wedding ceremony is completed the next day in the same place amid the sounds of available musical instruments in the village. As a result, there doesn't appear to be excessive spending on the wedding.
4. Kokanastha Brahmin brides
Still, lately due to urbanization, buying marriage accessories happens at the district level instead of the taluka, or if you want to indulge a bit more, it’s done in places like Kolhapur, Pune-Mumbai. Especially since the Konkan region is mainly connected to Mumbai, the changes happening in wedding celebrations are quickly felt in the rural areas of Konkan.
5. Kokanastha Maratha
For example, in Mumbai, the wedding feast or the evening welcome drinks are now seen at weddings here without even being called that. Similarly, the traditional Dhol-Tasha has been replaced by a Benjo or a DJ in semi-urban areas. Fireworks are set off during the wedding ceremony. Also, the car taking the newlyweds is decorated with flowers.
6. Kokanastha Brahmin Matrimony
From the Haldi ceremony, not only are photos of all the events taken, but there is also a desire to create video films, which is seen happening in many places. Nevertheless, the expenditure on this is considerably lower compared to the costs incurred for such matters in other major cities.
7. 96 Kuli Kokanastha Maratha Brides
The urban practice of renting a hall for weddings and contracting everything from the necessary items for the wedding ceremony to the meals is gradually being adopted in the talukas of the Konkan region. Some wedding halls have also sprung up in the vicinity of larger villages. However, their bookings appear to be relatively limited. 96K Kokanastha or 96k Kokanastha Caste community also made with simplicity.
8. Kokanastha Vaishya Samaj
In cities such as Chiplun, Ratnagiri, Sawantwadi, and Kankavali, grand pavilions are occasionally erected in specific grounds for the weddings of political leaders or individuals from the business and industrial sectors, with an attempt to avoid ostentation. Even Kokanastha Vaishya Vani community also avoid unnecessary expenditure.
9. Kokanastha Maratha Vivah Sanstha
In comparison to the Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg districts of Konkan, there is a substantial expenditure on food and meals during the Haldi ceremony held the day before weddings in the Agri community of Raigad district. This trend is particularly prevalent among the Agri community, followed by the Mali and Koli communities as well. The immense wealth accumulated from land transactions in the district over the past few years is cited as the principal reason for this.
10. Kokanastha Maratha Caste
Along with that, this also seems to happen through the ugly display of wealth in competitions. This bad practice breaks the backs of ordinary people. Because of this, recently some weddings have started adopting the commendable policy of completely disregarding the turmeric ceremony.
11. Kokanastha Maratha Matrimony
So, apart from this exception, weddings in the rural areas of Konkan generally still cost between one to two lakh rupees, and in urban areas, if you keep the expenses for rituals, food, and jewellery under control, it can be between three to four lakh rupees. Fortunately, the extravagance and wastefulness seen in weddings in other parts of the state hasn't happened here.
12. Conclusion
A Marathi wedding ceremony is not just a marriage event but a cultural experience. It showcases a glimpse of our rich traditions and culture. The rich traditions of the rituals in a Marathi wedding are an invaluable treasure of our culture, and it's our collective responsibility to preserve it for the next generation.
