Event Description

Maduve (Kannadiga Wedding)

Kannadiga weddings come with their own set of unique, beautiful (and often hilarious) traditions. It kicks off with Kashi Yatra, where the groom pretends he’s ditching marriage to become a monk-until the bride’s dad convinces him otherwise (thankfully).

Once that little performance is done, it’s time for Dhare Heriyadu, which mirrors the essence of Kanyadaan. The couple’s hands are placed on top of each other, forming a bridge between two lives about to merge. A sacred coconut and betel leaf grace this unity. Milk is poured out of a copper pot on top of this setup, blessing the couple with their well wishes for a beautiful marriage It’s equal parts emotional and symbolic.

Then comes the big one: Mangalsutra Dharane, when the groom ties a sacred gold-and-black-beaded thread around the bride’s neck. The groom ties 3 knots and then prays to the knot for a life filled with prosperity. This is the Kannada equivalent of “I do”! No words needed, just a Mangalsutra.

After that, the couple takes Saptapadi, or seven steps. Each step is basically a vow-like “let’s share food,” “let’s be best friends,” “let’s not fight over Netflix”-you get the drift.

And finally, Arundhati Nakshatra, where the priest points them to a star in the sky named Arundhati, who’s considered the OG role model for married life. The idea is, if you’re ever lost in the ups and downs of marriage, just look up-literally.