The Ritual of Kanyadaan and Paawpoojai is done by the parents of the bride.
Dr Roshan Singh – Jyotishacharya Shastri Pundit
After the Varmala or garlanding ceremony, the Kanyadaan ritual takes place. Kanyadaan, meaning “giving away the bride” in Sanskrit, is a symbolic marriage ritual for the Bride’s parents and the couple. The Father of the Bride take’s his daughters right hand and places it in the Groom’s right hand, requesting for him to accept his daughter as his equal partner. This ritual signifies both the acceptance of the Bride’s Father and his official approval to give his daughter away. In cases where the bride does not have parents she may request another family member to perform the Kanya Daan for her.
After joining the two hands, ‘Hastamelap’, the Mother of the Bride pours sacred water on to the palm of her husband’s hands, allowing it to flow through his fingers onto his daughters hand and ultimately to the groom’s hand as well. Rituals are chanted during this process and the curtain between the couple is lowered once Kanyadaan has been observed. The brother of the bride may also do the pouring of the water as well.
History Behind Kanyadaan
The Bride represents a form of the goddess Laxmi and the groom that of Lord Narayana. The brides parents are assisting in the union of the two ‘Gods’ while everyone bares witness. This Hindu wedding ritual is performed as a means of providing consent from the parents of the Bride before continuing on through the ceremony. It is said that Father of the Bride has to give away his most precious possession – his daughter – in order for the Bride to receive great prosperity and good fortune for her future.
After Observation of Kanyadaan
The brides sister ties the end of his scarf, to the bride’s sari with betel nuts, copper coins, and rice – symbolizing unity, prosperity, and happiness for the couple. The knot represents the eternal bond that comes with marriage.
Paawpoojai – The washing the feet of the groom.
The bridegroom is regarded as Lord Narayana. The parents of the bride wash the feet of the groom in total humility as they would do and serve the Lord. They will then offer a gift to him which generally comprises of a stainless steel thari and lota into which is placed a towel, a coconut and some fruit.
This is only done by the parents of the bride or another couple from the family if she does not have parents.
It has become customary in South Africa where other ladies from the family choose to carry out “paawpoojai” by offering trays as well. This is a South African Indian tradition that was started by our forefathers and does not form part of the Hindu Vivah Sanskaar Vidhi or procedure. In recent times learned Pundits guide the couple that the gifting of the couple with decorated trays of fruit and coconut should not be done.
