Wedding traditions of Mumbai
India's largest city, where Marathi, Gujarati, Parsi, Catholic and film-world weddings share the same streets.
Mumbai is home to many communities, and each keeps its wedding customs while sharing venues, caterers and trends. Marathi weddings are short and early, Gujarati weddings are long and musical, Parsi weddings are held in the evening and Goan Catholic families marry in the church.
A wedding here
A Maharashtrian wedding is usually held in the morning. The couple stand on a plank holding an antarpat cloth between them, guests throw rice, and the mangalashtaka is recited. A Gujarati wedding includes a garba night, the jaan arrival and the pheras. A Parsi wedding is held in the evening with the Ashirvad blessing by priests.
Where weddings happen
Marriage halls in Dadar, Matunga and Vile Parle, hotels in Juhu and Bandra, and agiary and church halls are used. Space and traffic limit many weddings to smaller sizes than in Delhi.
The season and the calendar
Marathi families follow the panchang, with a main season from November to May. The monsoon months are quieter. Many couples register the marriage in a civil office as well.
Wedding customs of Mumbai
Also part of it, and being written: Marathi wedding (Short, early rites with the antarpat cloth.), Garba (A circle dance common at Gujarati weddings.), Mangalsutra (The sacred necklace.), Sangeet (The musical evening.), Bollywood wedding (Film styles that influence weddings across India.).
Communities and their weddings in Mumbai
- Maharashtrian The antarpat and the morning rites.
- Gujarati Garba, the jaan arrival and the pheras.
- Parsi A Zoroastrian ceremony with a priest blessing.
- East Indian Catholic A church wedding with local folk songs.
- Bohra Muslim A nikah with community customs.
A wedding trail idea for Mumbai
- Zaveri Bazaar Mumbai's historic jewellery market.
- Dadar and Matunga Areas with Marathi and South Indian shops for silk, flowers and wedding goods.
- Crawford Market A market for trousseau items, gifts and sweets.
- Bombay Parsi Panchayat venues Community halls used for Parsi weddings.
Written by the EveryShaadi desk with AI assistance. Opening hours, venues and wedding-season dates change; check locally before travelling. Customs differ from place to place and family to family. If this is your tradition and we have it wrong, tell us.
Photo credits on this page
The small pictures above come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences. Some are cropped to fit.
- Dowry system in India: Unknown author, Public domain, source