Konkani GSB Wedding Traditions and Rituals

Who are Konkani GSB people?

Konkani GSB is a community of Gowda Saraswat Brahmins, who predominantly speak the Konkani language. They have their origin from the banks of Saraswathi River, from which they got their name. Konkani GSB people traveled all over Northern and Southern India and settled majorly in Karnataka. Their festivals and poojas are quite different since they are a combination of both the North and South Indian culture. Konkanis are Brahmins, but they eat fish. Konkani GSB matrimony has special attention because of its peculiar rituals and traditions. The famous Bollywood pair of Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh had their wedding in the Konkani GSB matrimony style recently. Let us see some of the beautiful rituals of the Konkani matrimony in this article.

Nandi Pooja

Nandi Pooja is the start of the Konkani GSB marriage. In this Pooja, the bride and the married women of her family will pray to the gods. Only married women are allowed to attend the Pooja. Usually, this Pooja will take place ten days before the marriage ceremonies.

Mehendi Ceremony

Mehendi ceremony is prevalent in all Hindu marriages, and so in the Konkani matrimony. This pre-wedding ritual is the process of decorating the bride’s hands and foot with beautiful Mehendi designs. It is a belief that she will get more affection from the groom and his family if the Mehendi leaves darker marks. 

Udida Muhurat

Udida Muhurat is a special pre-wedding ritual in Konkani weddings. In this ritual, the bride and the groom will grind black grams or Udida using a stone grinder. It is a play of teaching the bride to grind black grams, symbolically inviting her into the kitchen of the groom’s house.

Prarthana

Prarthana is a pre-wedding ritual of prayers from both the bride and the groom’s families at their respective houses.

Yeduru Kansani

Yeduru Kansani is the ritual just before the marriage. The female family members of the bride and the groom will sit and make the thali using flowers, betel leaves, Kalash, a mirror, and a chain. Then they will take akshata and take rounds over the Kalash kannadi (the mirror). In the end, the bride’s father will gift the groom with one coconut, and everyone will start to move to the wedding venue.

Varmala

When the groom arrives at the wedding venue, his maternal uncles will guide him inside. Then the bride and the groom will be seated with a cloth between them. The priest will chant some mantras. Then the cloth is removed, and both the bride and the groom will exchange garlands. 

Kanyadaan

Kanyadaan is the actual marriage ceremony. The bride and the groom will get blessings from both of their parents. After getting blessed from the elderly, they will sit together, and the groom ties a mangal sutra around the bride’s neck that means they are married.

Post-Wedding Ceremony

Post-wedding ceremonies will include mini-games played to make the bride feel comfortable in her new home, and both families will get together having fun and eat together with sweets and other dishes.