The bride is then
brought to the matrimonial mandap by her uncles and is made to
sit opposite the groom. A piece of cloth separates them so that
they cannot look at each other. The parents however sit facing
each other for the actual matrimonial ceremony. When the chanting
of the matrimonial mantras takes place, the couple stands up.
The cloth separating the two is removed and the couple garlands
each other.
The Kannada community is made up of very gentle and tolerant people.
The elders are immensely respected and it is they who agree to
a matrimonial match. The Kannada seniors, before finalising the
‘Nischay Tamulam’, get the horoscope matched. Once
the matrimonial alliance is decided upon, it is formalised with
a plate of betel leaves and supari (betelnut).
During the matrimonial ceremony of the ‘Dhare Herdu’,
the bride’s father gives the bride to the groom by placing
her hand onto his. The bride’s hand is then lightly placed
on the hand of the groom. The groom accepts the bride's hand while
holding a coconut and beetle leaves. During the ‘Saptapadi’
matrimonial ceremony, the Kannada couple takes seven rounds of
the havan (holy fire). Corn or rice is put into the havan five
times, before the seven pheras. Five married women tie the mangalsutra
around the bride’s neck, while the bridegroom holds it around
the neck of the bride.
The couple then takes blessings from the Kannada seniors present
at the occasion. There is a tearful farewell in a post - matrimonial
ceremony known as the ‘Vidaa’. The bride leaves her
paternal home to go to her husband's house. After the wedding
ritual, the entry of the bride into her new home is called ‘Graha
Pravesh’. Her brother accompanies her and stays for the
night. The bride’s entry into the house is made by her kicking
a kalash full of rice with her right foot kept at the threshold
of the house.
The bride is then given a new name. Her new matrimonial family
members will use this to address her with. On the second day,
as a post - matrimonial ritual, the bride's family comes to take
the newly weds to their house. The couple is made to stay at the
bride's paternal home for a few days. Later the groom's family
goes over to their in-laws place to fetch the bride and the groom.
The post - matrimonial reception is generally fixed for the evenings.
The food is simply delicious and definitely has a strong affinity
to the cuisine of the state of Karnataka.
Despite the richness and dynamism of the Kannada culture, the
typical Kannada family is very simple and tolerant. A Kannada
woman is noted for her pious nature, since religious pujas, fasts
and prayers of all sorts always occupy her. The new bride very
rarely faces the problem of adjusting to her household life in
her matrimonial house.
