KANNADA POST WEDDING RITUALS

Wedding not just about the actual ceremony, but comprises of rituals and traditions that are practiced before and after the wedding. While mostly the days before the actual day is spent preparing and organizing for the day, post wedding rituals are far more relaxed and are mostly involved with welcoming the new bride. Partying and celebration occupy a major portion of the post weddings ceremony. 

Griha Pravesh or welcoming the bride, the name-change ceremony (wherein the bridegroom decides a name for his wife), clothes gifting ceremony and reception party are some of the major celebration that take place after a Kannada ceremony. In the following lines, we have provided detailed information about each of the post marriage rituals practice in Kannada wedding.

Kannada Post Wedding Customs

Graha Pravesh Tradition
When the bride enters into her new home for the first time, she is given a warm welcome by the groom's parents. This tradition is known as Graha Pravesh. A kalash filled with rice is kept at the house entrance. The bride is then asked to kick it with her right foot and step into the house.

Name Change Ceremony
In the name change ceremony, the bridegroom decides a name for his wife and inscribes it on a plate containing rice with a ring. On the second day after marriage, the bride's family visits the newly weds house and take them to their home. The newly wedded couple stays at the bride's home for a couple of days. Thereafter, the groom's family goes to the bride's house to fetch the couple.

Clothes
The groom's family presents five saris to the bride, one for each occasion. A beautiful sari is given for the Dare puja, Kanjeevaram sari for the wedding and simple saris for the haldi and puja. When the bride comes to her husband's home after graha pravesh, she is seated on a sari, which is later given to her. The groom dresses up in silk dhoti and pitambar.

Reception
Reception party is usually held in the banquet hall in the evening time, where delicious mouthwatering food is served. Music and dance dominate the reception party. Members of the family make merry and celebrate the union of two individuals.

KANNADA WEDDING RITUALS

Wedding is one of the most blissful celebrations in one's life. In India, there is no specific wedding rituals and tradition. Different parts of the country celebrate differently. The Kannada wedding, that takes place in Karnataka, is marked by a number of unique rituals, which are practiced before, on and
after the wedding day. 


Kannada wedding, unlike the resplendent marriage which takes place in other parts of India, is a simple affair. During the D-day, there are a number of customary practices and rituals that are performed - right from purifying the madap or the place, where the marriage is going to take place to the var puja, the Dhare Herdu custom and Saptapadi ceremony. To know in detail about each of the ritual practiced, read through the following lines.

Kannada Wedding Customs

Mandap Puja & Var Puja

The first and foremost ritual that is performed on the wedding day is the Mandap puja. Preparations are done to purify the mandap and hall, where marriage is to take place. The bride's father then escorts the groom to the mandap. Thereafter, the bridegroom (who is considered to be a form of Lord) is worshipped. This ceremony is called Var Puja. The bride's parents wash the groom's feet. The groom is given a silk dhoti and pitambar to wear.

Thereafter, the bride is brought to the mandap with her sister covering her face with a fan made from peacock feathers. A white cloth is raised so that the couple cannot see each other. The groom and the bride put garland around each other's neck, to the chant of mantras. The bridegroom's sister holds a kalash of holy water containing a coconut, beetle leaves and Kombu Gindi.

Dhare Herdu Custom

Dhare Herdu custom is performed by the bride's parents as a gesture of giving away their daughter to the bridegroom. The bride's hand is placed in her husband's hand and a coconut and beetle leaves are kept on their hands. Then the parents pour a few drops of holy water on their hands. Thereafter, the bridegroom ties the mangalsutra around his wife's neck.

Saptapadi Ceremony

Saptapadi ceremony involves the taking of seven rounds by the couple around the sacred fire. Known as the saat phera, in every round, the couple makes a promise to each other to be at one another's side in good and bad times.

KANNADA PRE WEDDING RITUALS

Well if you thought is Indian wedding is only a single day affair, you are definitely in for a surprise. Traditionally, wedding celebrations in India extend almost a week long and incorporates pre-wedding, wedding and post wedding rituals. 

In Karnataka, wherein Kannada wedding is practiced, marriage is a lengthy affair and constitutes of many rituals that are practiced before the actual D-Day. After the fixing of the union, the horoscopes of bride and the groom are matched and a date for the engagement party is set. Nischay Tamulam, Naandi custom, Kaashi Yatre tradition and Dev Karya ceremony are some of the ceremonies that take place as the pre wedding rituals. To get details about each of the pre-wedding Kannada rituals, browse through the following lines.

Kannada Pre Wedding Customs

Nischay Tamulam or Fixing of the Alliance

In the betrothal ceremony, the parents of both the bride and the groom agree for the marriage of their children. While the groom's family, present the bride with a sari, blouse piece, coconut and fruits, the bride's family gift the groom a dhoti, coconut and many fruits. As this ritual of exchange of gift takes place, the priest recites mantras.

Naandi Custom

Naandi custom is performed by both the groom as well as bride's family in their respective homes. This is done to ensure that the marriage takes place smoothly.

Kaashi Yatre Tradition

As a part of Kaashi Yatre tradition, the bridegroom pretends that he is very angry and leaving for Kashi yatra because nobody is making an effort to find a suitable bride for him. He makes an announcement of his Brahmacharya. He stops only when his maternal uncle persuades him by showing him the girl that he has chosen for him. Or else he makes an offer of marrying his own daughter to him.

Dev Karya Ceremony

Traditionally, this ceremony is performed on the day of the arrival of the groom's family to the girl's village. All the items of marriage are placed in front of the idol of Lord Ganesha, to seek his divine blessings. Thereafter, turmeric paste is applied to the bride and groom, to lend glow to their skin. This takes place in their respective houses.