KANYADAAN | INDIAN WEDDING CEREMONY
The Kanyadaan Ritual
The Kanyadaan ritual is done when the Varmala is concluded. The interpretation of the Sanskrit word Kanyaadan in English means “giving away the bride”. This ritual is performed by the bride and her parents and is very important among the wedding rites. During Kanyadaan, the father of the wife-to-be holds her right hand and joins it with the right hand of the groom while asking the groom to take his daughter as his wife and partner. The Kanyadaan ritual symbolizes the father officially giving his blessing to the wedding of his daughter to the groom. The rite of joining the couple’s right hands’ by the bride’s father is referred to as Hastamelap.
When the Hastamelap is concluded, sacred water is poured by the bride’s mother onto the bride’s father’s hands, the water is poured in such a way as to let it flow to the bride’s hands and to the groom’s hands also. While this is going on, incantations are being chanted in the background until the Kanyadaan is concluded and the curtain gets lowered between the couple.
The Symbolism of Kanyadaan
From ancient Hindu folklore, the bride symbolizes the goddess Laxmi while the groom is a representation of Lord Narayana. Therefore, a marriage is seen as representing a divine union being supervised by the parents in the presence of witnesses- families and friends. Kanyadaan is seen by the Hindus as the process of the father providing his consent to allow his daughter get married to the broom. It is believed that the father’s blessings will allow the marriage to be prosperous and attract good luck.
Conclusion of the Kanyadaan
To round up the Kanyadaan ritual, the groom’s sister joins the end of his scarf to the bride’s gown (sari) using copper coins (which stand for prosperity), rice (indicating happiness) and betel nuts (representing unity). She ties the scarf and sari in a knot which is meant to show the everlasting bond that the couple’s marriage will create.
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