Kanyadaanam Ritual In Tamil Brahmin Iyer Weddings

One of the most important ceremonies in any Iyer wedding ceremony is Kanyadaanam. Kanyadaanam is considered as one of the biggest Danams (donations) in the Puranas. This Kanyadaan ritual happens right after the Oonjal ceremony.

What Happens in Kanyadaanam Ritual in Tamil Brahmin Iyer Weddings?

• After the Oonjal ceremony, the tip of the bride’s saree is knotted with the groom’s cloth.
• The bride’s mother applies kajal (traditional black ink) in the eyes of the groom to ward off all evil and the bride’s father again washes the groom’s feet.
• The bride is made to sit on her father’s lap. She holds a coconut in her hand.
• She places her palms on her father's palms while still holding the coconut.
• The father will then offer the coconut to the groom through the bride’s hand.
• The groom takes the bride's hand from her father
• Holy water is poured on the coconut by the bride's mother over the daughter's hand while it is given to the groom which fulfills the Kanyadaan.
• Water that is poured on the hands falls on the ground like a 'dhaara' and thus this ceremony is called 'dharaai vaarhtu kodukkal' in Tamil. 
• Mantras are chanted which says that the bride's father considers the groom as Lord Vishnu and he is gifting him his beloved possession, his daughter as an offering. 
• The Gothra of the bride gets changed to the groom's Gothra after this ritual
• After the Kanyadaan, the groom’s family gives a 9-yard saree which is called the 'Koorai Podavai' to the bride and she will have to wear it after this ceremony before taking the wedding vows. 
• The groom's sister and the other ladies help her wear this saree. 

With the conclusion of this ritual, the bride becomes part of her new family.