MUMBAI: Sony Entertainment Television’s magnum opus Punyashlok Ahilyabai has won the audience’s hearts with its strong narrative and the nuanced performances by the cast. The upcoming episodes will see celebrations galore with Ahilya and Khande Rao’s wedding. In order to mark this momentous occasion in Ahilya’s life, the makers left no stone unturned in making the all the ceremonies an elegant affair.

The auspicious Choodi ceremony, marks the beginning of the wedding rituals and is one of the most important pre-wedding rituals. All the women of the family gather around and sing Marathi wedding folk songs as Ahilya’s hands are adorned with green glass bangles by her mother. The green colour is considered to bring prosperity to the new relation. Following the choodi ceremony, the haldi ritual will see actor Aditi Jaltare who essays the character of Ahilya draped in a beautiful traditional yellow coloured silk saree replete with Mundawali (a forehead ornament - a must-have ornament in a Maharashtrian wedding) made of pure ‘rooi’ flowers. On the other hand, the groom Khande Rao essayed by Krish Chauhan will be seen in an ethnic Pitambar Uparna. 

Finally, as the part of the wedding ceremony the viewers will also get to see an Antrapat, where the bride and the groom are separated with a cloth as they can’t see each other while the pujari recites the vows. As the pujari recites the vows, the mother of the bride is not supposed to hear the same. The groom fills the maang of the bride with the sindoor and makes her wear mangalsutra. Then the saat pheras takes place, when the pujari explains the meaning of the vows to the bride and the groom. 

Sharing her excitement with us, Aditi Jaltare said, “The wedding sequence was the most fun to shoot. Firstly, because I enjoy dressing up and I could wear all the gorgeous authentic ethnic wear and the beautiful jewellery. Also, I got to learn so much about the Maharashtrian Malwa culture - the customs, the rituals and more. Furthermore, this wedding was an important milestone in Ahilyabai’s journey.”

Elaborating on his vision for the pre-wedding ceremonies, Director Jackson Sethi said, ‘Ahilya and Khande Rao’s wedding is a momentous occasion and we intended to do right by it. We wanted our viewers to experience an authentic Maharashtrian wedding vicariously through our show. Hence, we conducted an extensive research, paid attention to detail to all the customs and ceremonies and spared no effort into creating a memorable visual treat.”

Watch Punyashlok Ahilybai every Monday to Friday, at 7:30 pm only on Sony Entertainment Television.