Pune Dowry Death Case Sparks Maratha Community to Adopt Simple Wedding Code
Following the tragic death of 23-year-old Vaishnavi in Pune, the Maratha community has taken a significant step towards curbing extravagant weddings and dowry demands by drawing up a code of conduct.
DowryMaratha CommunityWedding ReformsPuneSocial ChangeReal Estate PuneJun 03, 2025
Vaishnavi’s suicide created such a storm that her father-in-law, Rajendra Hagawane, an NCP leader, was expelled from the party. Subsequently, police arrested multiple members of the family, including Hagawane and Vaishnavi’s husband, Shashank. Both the Hagawanes and Kaspates are Marathas.
In the wake of this tragedy, members of the Maratha community gathered at Ahilyanagar on Sunday to introspect and draw up a code of conduct to curb extravagant weddings. The meeting was chaired by Haribhakt Parayan Badrinath Maharaj Tanpure, a kirtankar of the Warkari tradition known for his progressive ideology and social consciousness.
Participants at the meeting condemned the dowry system and proposed an 11-point wedding code of conduct. Among the resolutions were avoiding lavish weddings with no pre-wedding shoots, limiting the guest list to 100-200 people, and using traditional musicians instead of DJs. Crucially, the community resolved to boycott weddings where pre-wedding photo or video shoots are displayed during ceremonies.
“Dowry must be avoided, and the money should instead be kept as a fixed deposit in the girl’s name,” the participants suggested. B Dhumal, an author and entrepreneur who participated in the meeting, said, “This incident has awakened the entire community. We deliberated over the issue and came up with suggestions. After compiling them, we have drawn up a code of conduct for weddings in the community.”
Other notable participants included NCP MLA Chetan Tupe, former mayors of Pune Ankush Kakde and Rajlaxmi Bhosale, former corporator Shrikant Shirole, and Maratha activist Rajendra Kondhare. Shirole commented, “Middle-class families often emulate the rich and get trapped in loans, thereby incurring stress.” Bhosale added, “Daughters-in-law must know that they will be supported by their families if they are harassed.”
Members of the committee have now decided to visit different localities to spread awareness, “as the community needs to adopt change on its own,” said Tanpure. But will the community follow a code that lacks legal backing? “A large part of the community is not economically well off – for them this code will be convenient. As for the rich, if the poor decide not to support them, they will have to fall in line eventually,” said Dhumal.
Sakal Maratha Samaj convenor Chandrakant Gade Patil, also a participant of the meeting, added, “It is possible to hold weddings on a small scale once social pressure builds. During COVID-19, many did it successfully.”
Marathas comprise over 30 percent of the state’s population and are politically active, with most public representatives, including MLAs and MPs, emerging from the community. Over the past few years, economically influential and politically connected community members have seen the trend of organizing big fat weddings, attended by thousands.
Earlier, on May 26, prominent Maratha families and political leaders convened in Pune to express concern over the culture of extravagant weddings, especially when coupled with demands for dowry. Reflecting on the way forward, Pune Congress chief Arvind Shinde said, “The community has resolved to socially boycott families who harass their daughters-in-law. No one will marry into such families.” It now remains to be seen if this momentum for reform will sustain.
Frequently Asked Questions
What triggered the Maratha community to adopt a code of conduct for weddings?
The tragic death of 23-year-old Vaishnavi in Pune, allegedly due to dowry demands, sparked the Maratha community to take action and draw up a code of conduct for simpler weddings.
What are some key points in the 11-point wedding code of conduct?
The code includes avoiding lavish weddings, no pre-wedding shoots, limiting the guest list to 100-200 people, using traditional musicians instead of DJs, and boycotting weddings with pre-wedding photo or video displays.
Who chaired the meeting to discuss the code of conduct?
The meeting was chaired by Haribhakt Parayan Badrinath Maharaj Tanpure, a kirtankar of the Warkari tradition known for his progressive ideology and social consciousness.
What role did political figures play in the meeting?
Several political figures, including NCP MLA Chetan Tupe, former mayors of Pune Ankush Kakde and Rajlaxmi Bhosale, and Maratha activist Rajendra Kondhare, participated in the meeting to support the cause.
How does the community plan to enforce the code of conduct?
The community plans to spread awareness by visiting different localities and using social pressure to ensure compliance with the code of conduct. They also plan to socially boycott families who harass their daughters-in-law.
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