Kannada

Dibbane means marriage procession and is similar to the Baraat in North Indian weddings. It is a fun-filled tradition where the groom's relatives let their hair down, dance and sing and get captured on a wedding video. 

What happens at the Dibbane Procession at Kannada Gowda Weddings?
Before the start of the procession, there is a custom of performing puja to the vehicle that carries the Dibbane. Kumkum, turmeric, and coconut are broken in front of the vehicle and an Aarti is done by the elder ladies to bless the wedding. 

The Nail Trimming Ceremony
Uguru Madichuva Shastra in English means cutting the nail ceremony. This is a unique ritual conducted in the Kannada Gowda marriages where a barber will cut the groom’s hair, trim his nails and give him a shave on the day of the wedding. The barber in return will get cash and clothes, rice, coconut, and bananas as a gift for his service. 

Tying the Kankana or also known as the Kankana Dharane is another important ritual performed before the wedding. A Kankana is a sacred thread which is smeared with turmeric and is tied around both the girl and the boy’s wrist to invoke God’s blessings. The ritual is performed separately in the respective houses of bride and groom. Both the bride and bridegroom wear this sacred thread and it is among the interesting pre-wedding rituals. 

After performing the Gauri pooja and taking Goddess Parvati to be her model, the bride is brought to the Mantapa by her maternal uncle for the next ritual.  Read on to understand the significance of Antarpata and Varmala Ritual: 

Honouring the Groom And His Family

Seeking Blessings From The Lord
After the wedding date is fixed, the first major function conducted in a Madhwa marriage is the Devara Samaraadhane which is essentially offering prayers, singing Kannada songs and seeking blessings from the ‘Family Deity’ for the marriage event to be conducted successfully. This ritual is conducted by both the bride and the groom’s family separately. 

A Traditional and Playful Ritual
A fun ritual in the otherwise serious and sentimental ceremony is the Kashi Yatra during marriages. Kashi is considered a holy place for most Hindu communities, and the Lingayats share the same sentiments. The bride’s uncle plays an important role in this ritual where he asks the groom to give up his quest for spiritual life by going to Kashi and instead get married. The groom wants to leave the worldly pleasures and move to Kashi and the uncle stops him.

Seeking the Blessings Of The Lord For Successful Completion Of Marriage 

Nischaya Tamulam: The Official Acceptance Of The Marriage Alliance

In an arranged marriage, after the bride and the groom give their consent to get married, the parents set out to search for a suitable alliance for their child. If the parents find someone suitable, they proceed with talks. Horoscopes are exchanged, and if they match, they proceed further. The horoscopes are matched so that the couple may have a bright future.