Tens of thousands of couples, including cricketing star Virendra Sehwag, were tying the knot across India after astrologers declared it the most auspicious day in 70 years.
An estimated 17,000 weddings were due to take place in New Delhi alone and priests, beauty parlours and hotels were booked out, news reports said.
In the eastern state of Bihar, an estimated 150,000 weddings were due to take place Thursday, according to K.K. Mishra, a Hindu priest in capital Patna.
"I am booked for eight marriages today," he said.
Astrologer Ajay Bhambi said Thursday was "right for everything".
"If you want to do anything -- marry, buy a house or start anything new -- today is the most auspicious day according to the planetary configurations," he said. The next such day will come round in 12 years.
Many Indians, who are among the world's most superstitious, set great store by astrology in fixing the time of major activities.
Sehwag was due to wed Delhi resident Aarti Ahlawat in the evening at the residence of Law Minister Arun Jaitley -- a cricket fan who offered his sprawling premises to the young couple.
Jaitley also heads the Delhi Cricket Association.
The celebrations come barely five days after the 25-year-old Sehwag returned from a triumphant tour of Pakistan.
Sehwag, who was man of the series in Pakistan after smashing India's first triple century in Test cricket at Multan, got engaged to Ahlawat, daughter of a family friend, just before the tour began on March 8.
The media, barred from the ceremony, are to be allowed a 45-minute session with the couple at a reception in a five-star hotel on Saturday.
Cricket captain Sourav Ganguly and other team-mates are expected to attend the reception, during which the 30th birthday of master batsman Sachin Tendulkar will also be toasted.