Marathas in PCMC areas draft code, encourage simple weddings & less spending

Time of India

2 days ago

Pune: Members from the Maratha community in Pimpri Chinchwad came together to draft a social code for community members to follow while organising weddings. The initiative, which received support from leaders across political parties, aims to promote simple and responsible wedding practices and prevent harassment-related issues.
A proposal outlining the new guidelines was unanimously passed at a meeting on Sunday. One of the key rules is to avoid arranging marriages in families against whom there are complaints of harassment or dowry-related abuse—a practice referred to as avoiding "roti-beti" ties with such households. The guidelines also urge community members to keep weddings simple, minimise expenses, and ensure the timely conduct of functions.
Bhausaheb Bhoir, actor and former PCMC corporator, stated that ten-member committees will be formed in each locality to spread awareness. These committees will work closely with people, especially youths, to change prevailing mindsets and encourage more responsible behaviour.
Bhoir said, "We have also planned separate meetings with young men and women in the community to discuss the issue with them. The recent incident (Vaishnavi Hagawane's death) was deeply unfortunate, and we believe such proactive steps are essential to prevent similar tragedies."
The community members said that the incident has sparked misunderstandings and brought a bad name to the community.
Rajendra Kondhare of Akhil Bhartiya Maratha Mahasangh said that extravagant wedding celebrations have become the norm, with many spending excessively to show off.
"What they often forget is that much of their wealth comes from ancestral property, and it should not be wasted like this. We discussed plans to create awareness about reducing expenses on such extravaganzas in the meeting," he said.
Kondhare also criticised the growing trend of politicising weddings by inviting prominent politicians and celebrities, calling for an end to such practices. He revealed that plans are in place to produce awareness videos featuring senior politicians and celebrities, urging families from the community to keep weddings simple.
Former mayor Sanjog Waghere, who also participated in the meeting, pointed out to the rising trend of honouring several relatives on stage, which includes gifting clothes.
"We recommend felicitating only the bride and groom. Also, families should not delay functions waiting for VIP guests. Ceremonies should start and end on time," he said.
Waghere added that the community will soon host sessions for unmarried youths to raise awareness about these guidelines. He also stressed the role of marriage intermediaries in maintaining post-marriage communication between families to address any issues before they escalate.
The discussion extended beyond weddings to other community rituals. One rule included in the resolution passed in the meeting involved limiting the number of attendees from each village to pay condolences during the last rites.
Head: No alliance with families with history of harassment
* Parents should create a supportive and open environment at home, encouraging their sons to discuss important matters freely before marriage
* Marriage ceremonies should be conducted on time, avoiding delays
* No matrimonial alliances (roti-beti ties) should be formed with families facing a history of complaints related to the harassment of women
* Felicitation events should be kept minimal and focused only on essential participants
* The number of people invited on stage during ceremonies should be limited
* Wedding processions (baraat) should be simple
* Extravagant and unnecessary expenses must be avoided; families are encouraged to host simple, dignified wedding functions
* Only one formal 'Swagat' (welcome) and 'Ashirwad' (blessing) ceremony should be conducted
* Parents should refrain from interfering in the internal matters of the bride's family after marriage
* In cases of injustice towards a woman, the entire community must come together to support her and stand by her side