Selecting the right wedding trousseau is just as important as getting the right wedding mantras. The wedding attire not only enhances the beauty of the bride and groom, but is also a reflection of the religion and culture of the place in general and of the wedding participants in particular. Marathi marriage has some unique rituals and customs. Wedding attire is generally traditional and sarees are worn at most wedding-related functions. The bridal sari for the Marathi marriage is the ‘Paithani’, the traditional craft of the state’s master weavers.

Maharashtrian brides generally wear traditional Indian attire on their wedding day. Even for the other functions related to the wedding, the brides prefer to wear Indian clothing. Most of the brides in Maharashtra wear saris on their wedding day. Paithani Sarees are the first choice for brides in Marathi Marriage

What are paithani sarees?

Paithani Sarees are hand-woven saris favored by Maharashtrian women during important festivals and functions. These saris are a good example of the crafts of the state. The city of Paithan in Maharashtra is the place of origin of these saris.

Fabric and Texture of Bridal Paithani Saree:

Paithani sarees are available in cotton and silk. Bridal sarees are usually woven from silk with intricate embroidery on the border. In earlier times, saris had borders woven with gold thread. However, with the increase in the cost of gold metal, gold-colored coated silver threads are used. Full sarees are woven by hand and thus take times from several months to a year. Also, weaving silk sarees requires special care as the fabric is very soft. Pure silk Paithani sarees are very expensive and only the very wealthy can buy them. The weavers are mixing cotton and silk in proportion so that the sarees are easy to maintain and affordable at the same time. Cotton base is used in the body of the sarees while silk threads are used for the borders and motifs of the sarees. In Marathi marriage, the bride prefers silk sarees.

Patterns and Designs in Paithani Bridal Sarees:

The Bridal Paithani Saree has striking colors in rich shades of red, maroon, and green. Most of the bridal sarees in India are red in color as red is considered an auspicious sign. Paithani sarees are also known for their unique color combination. The ‘pallu’ of saris bears has a different shade than the body. Most sarees feature intricate zari borders.

Bridal paithani sarees patterns are available in various designs. The pallu usually have animal motifs such as peacock) and parrot. The border of the sarees also features interesting motifs like stars, mangoes, flowers, petals, and lotuses. Other designs like coconut, fan and coin also find a place in bridal sarees. The sizes and patterns of these motifs vary, although most of them are woven from golden silk threads. The bodies of the sarees usually have motifs dotted in silver or gold threads.

Paithani Sarees in Marathi Marriage:

The Marathi bride looks resplendent in the rich silk sarees with intricate borders. The bride wraps the Paithani saree in a unique way on her wedding day. Paithani bridal sarees have admirers not only in Marathi marriage but people in general buy them. These sarees are a work of art and even foreigners admire them. Sarees reflect the art and cultural heritage of Maharashtra. In the age of mechanization, these sarees are a true labor of love and dedication. Sarees are still woven by hand and cost between 5,000 and 50,000 depending on the weave, motifs and variety of silk.