India is a country steeped in various traditions. Different festivals, weddings, rituals, traditions are celebrated in different ways in different parts of India. Maharashtra also has many such traditions, which are carried out in innovative ways in different parts of Maharashtra. There are many rituals in marriage which are performed according to the customs of that area. One of them is the tradition of ‘crossing the scale’ when the new couple enters the house.
In some parts of Maharashtra, especially in western Maharashtra, Konkan region, different forms of the ritual of “passing the measure” were practiced until the 1980s-90s (and in some places even today). Today it is common for the bride to cross a measure full of rice when entering the in-laws; However, in the past, in some families, it was customary for the bridegroom to exceed the measure. Let us understand the thought behind this custom today.
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The concept behind this was slightly different. When the bridegroom first came to his house after marriage, it was the practice in some places that the groom should first step over the measure full of grain placed at the threshold of the house, and then the bride should fill the spilled measure and enter. A measure full of grain is considered a symbol of household prosperity, food abundance and Lakshmi. Crossing it by the bridegroom was considered to be a symbol of acceptance of household responsibilities, readiness to raise a family and entry into the household.
This practice was especially seen during the period when joint family system was prevalent. As the son is considered to be the future breadwinner of the family, his entry into the house is also given religious and cultural significance. In later times, the wedding rituals were influenced by different aspects and the “crossing the scale” part of the bride’s entry into the house became more famous.
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In folklore and family traditions, crossing the scale is not only an act of homecoming, but a symbol of prosperity, initiation, and the acceptance of a new life. Hence, in some old photographs or wedding albums from the 1980s-1990s, scenes of the bridegroom crossing the scale can be seen even today. This practice was not uniform throughout Maharashtra. Her practices varied according to the customs, family traditions and local culture of each region.
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