Kanyadaan Rituals & Significance, The Most Emotional Moment For A Father & Daughter

Marriage is one of the most important phases of life. Furthermore, as we all know a traditional Hindu wedding is one of the most festive weddings across the globe. There, we get to see plenty of ceremonies, rituals, and customs. These ceremonies, rituals, and customs highlight the essence of our culture. Out of all the rituals that carry a deep sentimental significance the most important one is that of “Kanyadaan”.

Kanyadaan is a connotation of two words Kanya as in daughter and Daan as in giving away. It literally means giving away one’s daughter to a new family. This new family is the one which she is soon to embrace as she marries off to the groom.

Origin of the Kanyadaan Ceremony

Kanyadaan is said to be an age-old tradition. However, you would be astounded to note that it is a relatively new concept. The Vedas, which are texts that delineate principles of the good life have no mention of the Kanyadaan ceremony in a traditional wedding. During the Vedic era, the consent of a woman is very important when it comes to marriage. However, the concept of the father offering his daughter to the groom was unheard of.

It was only with the passage of time that things began to change. As time went by, the principles of Vedas evolved giving rise to the Manu Smriti texts. Consequently, with the coming of these new texts, the concept of kanyadaan started coming into play. According to Manu Smriti, Kanyadaan is the biggest achievement for any family man. It is the “greatest daan” that exemplifies the emotions that parents feel as they give away their daughter to a new family.

The emotional significance of the Kanyadaan ceremony

Kanyadaan marks the biggest transition not just in the life of the bride but also in the life of her family. It is an emotionally charged ritual that affects the father and his daughter to the maximum level. It is safe to say that the bond between a father and daughter is the most special one. A daughter is her father’s most precious possession. They pamper their daughters and fulfill all their wishes. Because deep down they know that one day they have to marry their daughters off.

Every father feels that no man is ever going to be good enough for his little girl. Nonetheless, they are bound to marry them off hoping that the guy she is marrying cares for her with the same levels of love and patience as he does. Kanyadaan is an indispensable ritual and a sacrifice that a father makes in order to ensure her daughters’ happiness.

Kanyadaan in a traditional Hindu wedding

A daughter leaving her home in order to embrace her new home is not peculiar to Hindu tradition. It happens in marriages of all traditions. Regardless, it is given more importance in Hindu weddings due to its religious element. The atmosphere of a traditional Hindu wedding is mostly filled with lots of cheering and celebration. However, after the seven vows the milieu changes completely when the father of the bride places her hand on the groom.

This putting of the daughter’s hand in the hands of the groom is a symbol of transferring the daughter’s responsibility to the damaad (son-in-law). This is one of the purest rituals.

Religious Significance of the Kanyadaan ceremony

Why is it said that the ritual of Kanyadaan is imbibed with deep religious symbolism? It is said so because the groom is considered a representation of Lord Vishnu. Therefore, with the act of Kanyadaan, the parents give a gift to that representation of a god. That gift is a considerable piece of their existence, that gift is their daughter.

Furthermore, with this ritual, it is also propagated that the groom is receiving the most precious gift that he will ever receive in his life. This gift is something that the groom has to forever take care of.

The act where the father of the bride places her right hand in that of the groom is known as hastamilap

Both the groom’s and bride’s hands are then joined by a sacred thread over which betel leaves, betel nuts, flowers, dry fruits, conch, gold, and money are placed. Consequently, the bride’s father is asked to pour a mix of Ganga Jal and Milk over their joined hands. The ritual proceeds as the priest chants holy verses in praise of Kamadeva, the God of Love.

The linkage between the groom and the bride is firmly established the moment the groom is asked to place his hand on the right shoulder of the bride. This act symbolizes him taking responsibility for her well-being. The groom continues to hold his bride’s hand they proceed to take the Pheras (circling the holy fire together) and utter the holy vows as asked by the priest.

The custom of Kanyadaan bores a lot of importance in a marriage. Without it marriage is incomplete. Kanyadaan allows a daughter to be a wife and embrace her new family with all the love within herself. It should always be cherished.

Also read: The Actual Reason Why An Indian Bride Throw Rice During Her ‘Vidaai’ Is Beautiful Beyond Words