Quick Answer
What is seemantapoojan?
Seemantapoojan is the formal welcome ritual in a Maharashtrian wedding where the bride's father (or a senior male relative) honours the groom at the venue entrance — washing his feet, applying tilak, and garlanding him — before escorting him to the mandap.
Last updated:
Last updated:
What is seemantapoojan?
Also called: simant poojan, sīmāntapūjan.
Seemantapoojan is the Maharashtrian version of receiving the groom's side at the door, done with real ritual weight rather than a casual welcome. It marks the moment the bride's family formally accepts the groom into the ceremony, and it happens before he ever reaches the mandap.
In Marathi — मराठीत
सीमंतपूजन म्हणजे नवरीच्या वडिलांनी किंवा घरातील ज्येष्ठ व्यक्तीने नवरदेवाचं औपचारिक स्वागत करण्याचा विधी. वरात घेऊन आलेल्या नवरदेवाचे पाय धुतले जातात, टिळा लावला जातो आणि हार घातला जातो, त्यानंतर त्याला मांडवाकडे नेलं जातं. हा विधी म्हणजे नवरीचं कुटुंब नवरदेवाला मनापासून स्वीकारत असल्याची पहिली औपचारिक खूण असते.
What happens during seemantapoojan
- •The groom arrives at the venue, often after a procession (varat).
- •The bride's father or a senior relative washes the groom's feet, applies tilak, and garlands him.
- •The groom is then formally escorted to the mandap for the rest of the ceremony.
Planning notes
- •Coordinate the groom's procession arrival time closely with this ritual — the bride's family needs to be positioned and ready at the entrance.
- •This is a good photo moment worth briefing your photographer on in advance.
- •Keep a clear path from the entrance to the mandap for the escort that follows.
Coordinate arrival timing with your ops team
Use Weddingkart's day-of run sheet and WhatsApp broadcasts to alert the reception team the moment the groom's procession is minutes from the venue.
See day-of coordination tools →Frequently Asked Questions
Who performs seemantapoojan?
Typically the bride's father, though a senior male relative can perform it if the father is unavailable.
When does seemantapoojan happen?
Right after the groom's procession (varat) arrives at the venue, before he is escorted to the mandap for the main ceremony.
Is seemantapoojan the same everywhere in Maharashtra?
The core elements — feet-washing, tilak, garlanding — are broadly consistent, though the exact sequence and additional gestures can vary by family and regional sub-community within Maharashtra.
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By Mayank JaiswalLast updated