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Destination - Kannadiga Wedding

The Kannadiga wedding rituals is the mother from which a lot of the Manglorean rites are taken. The Tulu and the Konkani scripts take a lot from the Kannadiga one. As with most Hindu weddings the Kannadiga one differs either in the sequence or in the customs amongst the various Brahmin and non-brahmin castes. We take a look at the rituals followed by the Brahmins.

It may be noted here that some castes like those from Dharwar and Hubli do not use water for the dhaare. Instead they use a mixture jeera-gur symbolizing an union which has the blessings of togetherness accompanied by the bitter and sweet of life. Others still perform a naag puja during the final visarjan when dough moulded in the form of a snake is kept at the puja site in the mandap. There are many small differences in the customs and the way of performing the rites, but the end of it is the same - the spirit of pure joy and fulfillment that does into making a marriage such a joyful memorable occasion in one's life.

One of the customs the Brahmins strictly adhere to is that they always insist on a match never being performed in the same gotra / clan as it is genetically better for the children born of the marriage, rather than having health problems later as when two cousins marry. All Kannadigas believe that the bridal couple are actually the goddess Lakhsmi and the Lord Narayan. Hence they are treated with utmost respect.

The Mysore Brahmin wedding has two customs unique to it

1. anna dana or food donation

2. hour-long kanyadaan ritual, the dhaare of which is done by every wedded couple in the congregation

Previously weddings were celebrated over a span of three days. Nowadays it is reduced to one day. The first day was for naandi - prayer to the ancestors and calling for their blessings navagraha puja to the nine planets for favourable benefits nischaya tamboula - the announcement of the groom entering the grahastashram / married state and the devare santarpane.

The morning starts with the beautification ritual or ennai shastra at the homes of both the bride and groom. After undergoing a turmeric and oil massage, followed by a bath, a female relative performed aarti / blessing to ward off evil eye and was a given token cash amount in return. The announcement of the start of the festivities was done by the symbolic grinding of a little rice on a grinding stone by the groom's/bride's eldest sister.

The devaare santarpane is the invocation of the kula devta or the family deity. In the deity's name anna dana in the form a sumptuous lunch to brahmins of other gotras is given. Dakshina / token amounts and tamboula / betel leaves and nuts are also presented to every brahmin. The same evening the groom goes to the wedding hall, usually close to the bride's place, for the vara puja. This is actually a mark of hospitality by the hosts, the bride's family. The groom is welcomed by the bride's mother with the washing of his feet at the entrance. He is then escorted to his seat where, once again,his feet are washed. Varopchara is now performed - the giving of presents which include a silver plate, silver bowl and glass indicating that they would like the groom to eat in luxury or a silver plate for the rest of his life.This means that the couple is being wished a life of comfort at this, the start of a new chapter in their life. The groom's side also gifts the bride with saris and jewellery, after which the groom and his party settle down for the night.

The second day starts with the ennai shastra again. After this the bride performs Gauri puja in her house asking the goddess Gauri for her blessings for motherhood. Meantime in his house the groom undertakes that ritual full of fun and jollity, harking back to ancient times - the kashi yatra whereby he is ready to renounce the world, take sanyas and become a brahmacharya. The bride's maternal uncle cajoles and coaxes him to stay back, offering his niece in marriage. After giving it some thought the groom very magnanimously agrees to accept the offer.

The bride now performs the ashwattha vrikhsha puja tving a thread around a peepal tree. For this she wears a white sari gifted by her uncle and prays for a long happy married life with healthy children. As the time of the murutham nears she changes into her wedding apparel and is carried to the mandap by her maternal uncles as a sign of their affection and love. This ritual, in all probability, had its origin in the days of child marriages / bal vivaha when children were carried to the mandap. The couple exchange garlands after the partitioning cloth is removed to the teasing and merriment of the relatives, egging them on to look into each other's eyes. In ancient times this would be the first time the couple would be looking at each other.

The dhaare is now performed first by the bride's parents, then by every married couple / sumangali in the congregation who want to be a part of this rite, the foremost and most blessed in Hindu tradition. This takes about and hour and is hence confined to only five or six couples. The bride's brother also gives his assent to the marriage by performing the laja hom - the offering of puffed rice to Agni. Now that all concerned have given their consent the groom performs the tali kattodo - tying the mangal sutra / tali on the bride. With the Kannandigas the mangal sutra is inverted saucer shaped pendants strung onto a yellow cord.

The couple now take the customary seven steps / saptapadi together proclaiming them man and wife. With each step the bride rubs off seven successive mounds of rice as they pray for the seven gifts of food, strength, wealth, cattle, children, happiness and devotion. They then go around for the aashirwadam or blessings of their close relatives, starting with their parents. Meantime the pundit performs the visarjan or the end of the rituals and thanks the gods for having blessed the marriage,
The third day is solely for the bride and groom to entertain the other side - the beegara owtana / feeding of the in-laws, by way of delicious dinner. The festivities draw to a close, but a new life of adventure, hope and fun is just starting.

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Destination - Kannadiga Wedding

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