Karnataka has a long historical and cultural tradition. The Kannada community is a fun-loving race, very friendly and pure of heart. Karnataka is not a homogeneous state as evidenced by its diversity. Kannada spoken in different regions of the state has been colloquialized to such an extent that in many instances it is incomprehensible to one well versed in classical Kannada.
Like the dynamic facet of the language, their matrimonial rituals portray equal variation. The bride is always dressed in red, just like a North Indian bride, unlike a Southern bride who is normally dressed in green or yellow. The groom's attire is quite different from that of other Indian grooms. If any state is a Mini India, it will surely be Karnataka. The Kannada matrimonial customs seem a mix of the North and South. Though there are similar rituals like those in Indian matrimonials, there exist some distinct customs. There are different communities in Karnataka and there are some differences in the matrimonial rituals followed by each of them. read more..
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).
'Dev Karya' is a traditional pre - matrimonial ritual performed on the day of the arrival of the groom's family to the village. All the gifts and items that are to be exchanged or used in the marriage are placed in front of Lord Ganesha to seek blessings from the Lord. On this day, haldi is applied to the bride as well as the groom in their respective houses. Another pre - matrimonial ritual is where the Uddin Murth - a type of grain is ground. This occasion is considered to be very sacred.
The two Kannada families then perform a pre - matrimonial ceremony known as the 'Nandi'. This is performed a few days before the actual matrimonial day. This ceremony ensures that the rituals to follow will take place without any problems.
On the day of the marriage, the Kannada families and relatives perform a havan at the respective homes of the bride and groom. After this havan, the groom leaves for the bridal house or the venue of the wedding, after taking blessings from the Gods, Goddesses and the elders of the family. On arrival at the matrimonial venue, the groom is welcomed with an aarti, by the sumangalis (married women) from the girl's side.
A very lighthearted matrimonial ritual known as the 'Kashi Yatra' takes place. The groom threatens the bride side of his intentions of not wanting to get married (Brahmacharya), as he would like to go on a pilgrimage to Kashi. All the while he carries a walking stick, an umbrella, a fan, a coconut, a small packet of rice & dal and a dhoti. The bride's parents plead with him not to leave but to get married to their daughter who has been praying for the groom ever so fervently. The bride's father then offers his sister's hand in marriage to convince the groom to stay. The bride's father brings the groom to the mandap and performs the 'Var Puja'. The bride's parents honour him by washing his feet and offer him Kannada matrimonial clothing like silk dhoti and pitambar, which are to be worn by him.
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.
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.