Kannada Wedding Traditions & Rituals

Pre-Wedding Rituals:

• Naandi Custom: The Naandi ceremony is performed a few days before the wedding. It involves seeking the blessings of family deities and ancestors. The bride and groom, along with their families, perform puja (ritualistic worship) to invoke the blessings of the deities for a successful and harmonious wedding.
• Kaashi Yatra: In this symbolic ritual, the groom pretends to leave for Kashi (Varanasi), indicating his intention to renounce worldly life. The bride’s father then convinces him to marry his daughter and convinces him to return.
• Dev Karya: Dev Karya involves seeking the blessings of the family deity by performing puja at the respective temples. It is believed to ensure the smooth conduct of the wedding and bring prosperity to the couple.

Wedding Rituals:

• Mandap Puja: Before the wedding ceremony, the wedding mandap (canopy) is erected at the venue. The mandap is decorated with flowers and traditional motifs. The priest performs a puja to bless the mandap and seek the blessings of the deities.
• Kashi Yatre: As the groom arrives at the wedding venue, he is greeted by the bride’s parents. The bride’s brother then performs a ritual where he washes the groom’s feet and offers him gifts. The groom is then playfully persuaded to proceed on a mock pilgrimage to Kashi. However, the bride’s father convinces him to stay and marry his daughter.
• Varapooje: Varapooje is a ritual where the bride’s parents welcome the groom and his family to the wedding venue. They perform aarti (ritualistic worship with lamps) and offer them flowers, betel leaves, and nuts as a gesture of hospitality and respect.
• Kanyadaan: Kanyadaan is a significant ritual where the bride’s father formally gives away his daughter to the groom. He places the bride’s right hand on the groom’s right hand, symbolizing the transfer of responsibility and guardianship. This ritual represents the bride’s parents’ acceptance of the groom as their daughter’s lifelong partner.
• Mangalsutra and Saptapadi: The groom ties a sacred thread, known as the Mangalsutra, around the bride’s neck, signifying their marital bond. The couple then takes seven steps together, known as the Saptapadi, around the holy fire. With each step, they make vows and promises to each other, symbolizing their commitment to a lifelong partnership.
• Dhare Herdu Ritual: In this ritual, the bride’s brother hands her a container filled with rice, which she then pours into her hands. The rice slips through her fingers and is collected in her brother’s hands, symbolizing their eternal bond and support.
• Arishina Shastra and Saptapadi: The bride and groom exchange garlands three times, and the groom applies turmeric paste to the bride’s feet, symbolizing his respect and commitment. The couple then takes seven steps together, symbolizing their journey through seven stages of life.

Post-Wedding Rituals:

• Grihapravesha: The newly married couple is welcomed to the groom’s house. The bride is greeted by her mother-in-law with aarti and rice, symbolizing her entry into her new home.
• Saptapadi Ritual: The couple visits the bride’s house to seek blessings from her parents. They perform the Saptapadi ritual again, emphasizing their enduring commitment to each other.

• Reception: A reception is held to celebrate the wedding with family, friends, and community members. It includes food, music, and cultural performances.