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.
Procedure for Kankana Dharane Ritual in Kannada Gowda Weddings
To perform this puja, in a small vessel, milk is added along with rice and jaggery. A puja is performed for the family deity by the priest and the mother of the bride along with other married women. They go to the family temple singing songs carrying a copper pot which has the Ishta-devata or the tutelary god.
After that, the Kankana tying is done. The girl is asked by the maternal uncle to place her hand over the vessel and he then ties the Kankana on her wrist. The same procedure is followed in the boy’s house with his maternal uncle tying the band over the boy’s wrist. Prayers are offered to the Lord to seek his blessings. The belief is that the Kankana will act as a shield against all bad omen as the Gods are pleaded with to come and place themselves on this sacred thread. They are also requested to remain there till the wedding is completed.
After tying the thread, toe rings are put on the middle fingers of both feet as a gift by the uncle. The Kankana is removed by the respective maternal uncle’s after the marriage ceremony is over.