Pune: Alandi, one of Maharashtra’s most revered pilgrimage centres and home to the samadhi of Sant Dnyaneshwar, witnessed an unusual but telling social transition this year, as over a 100 couples chose to marry on Valentine’s Day, setting aside the traditional ‘muhurat’ associated with astrology.Local marriage registration offices and private halls reported an unprecedented surge in weddings on Feb 14, marking the first time such a trend was recorded in the otherwise deeply traditional temple town.According to officials at the Alandi marriage registration office, the rush was noticeable from early morning. With no auspicious marriage muhurat listed in the Hindu almanac on the day, such weddings were rare in the past.Yet, by midday, queues of couples, many accompanied by close family members and friends, lined up to complete legal formalities. Several private marriage halls and budget wedding venues in and around Alandi were fully booked, while photographers and decorators reported brisk business.Local officials said that while court marriages and registered weddings rose steadily over the years, Valentine’s Day triggered an unexpected spike.“We usually see higher numbers on auspicious dates. This is the first time we saw so many couples specifically choosing Feb 14, despite there being no traditional muhurat,” Girish Purohit, who has been running the marriage bureau office for two decades, told TOI.For many couples, the choice was both practical and symbolic. Valentine’s Day, they said, represented companionship and personal commitment rather than ritual precision. Several newly weds explained that shrinking family sizes, work schedules, and rising wedding costs encouraged simpler ceremonies focused on legal registration and intimate celebrations.“We wanted our wedding to be meaningful to us. Valentine’s Day felt special,” said a bride, adding that elders in the family eventually agreed.Wedding service providers noted that most ceremonies were modest. Floral decorations, heart-shaped motifs, and red-and-white themes replaced elaborate mandaps. Some couples exchanged garlands under Valentine-themed backdrops, blending modern symbolism with essential traditional rites. Caterers reported small guest lists, while priests said they were consulted mainly for basic rituals rather than full-day ceremonies.Alandi’s residents, initially surprised, appeared largely accepting of the change. Shopkeepers near the temple precinct said the day brought a different kind of footfall—young couples, photographers, and families rather than only pilgrims.“It felt different but not disrespectful. People were happy and, most importantly, the couples were enjoying their moments,” Sanket Waghmare, who runs the marriage hall in the town, said.Changing Times In Temple Town Sociologists see the development as part of a broader shift in urban and semi-urban Maharashtra, where individual choice is gradually reshaping social customsWhile pilgrimage towns have historically been bastions of orthodoxy, changing education levels, mobility, and exposure to global culture are influencing personal choices such as marriageAlandi was known as a safe choice for lovebirds, especially those who left their homes to tie the knot, for decadesReligious scholars said that tradition still holds strong sway in Alandi and the new trend does not mean the traditional ‘panchang’ has lost its relevancequotes Most families will continue to follow it. What we are seeing is coexistence—faith alongside personal choiceA person who conducts marriagesIn a way, it is a positive sign, as even families approved their proposals and planning. Most of them tied the knot at the very last moment. What was important for the town was to accept them and accommodate them with open arms. This culture will certainly draw young people to the townVikas Kate I Alandi-based lawyer activist Here, people do not consider marriage a business, but helping and supporting loving souls to start their new journeys with smilesAshish Bhagwat, another person who conducts marriages
