Kanyadaan

Kanyadaan is performed within the mandap and is considered among the most emotionally significant moments of the wedding for the bride's family. In its traditional theology the act is framed as a sacred gift in which the father entrusts his daughter to the groom, who in turn pledges to uphold dharma (duty), artha (prosperity), and kama (desire) in the marriage.

The ritual commonly involves the father (sometimes with the mother) pouring sacred water over the joined hands of the bride and groom while reciting mantras, and the groom accepting the responsibility of caring for and protecting the bride. Gifts and offerings may accompany the ritual depending on regional custom.

Kanyadaan carries deep cultural and religious weight, though its patriarchal framing of "giving away" a daughter has prompted reinterpretation and debate in modern times. Some contemporary couples and priests adapt the ritual to emphasize mutual partnership or have both parents participate, and certain families choose to modify or omit it. Practices and the inclusion of kanyadaan vary across Hindu communities and regions.