Kannada weddings are known for their rich cultural heritage, elaborate traditions, and colorful celebrations. Here are some of the key features of a traditional Kannada wedding:

1. Nischay Tamulam: This is the engagement ceremony where the families of the bride and groom exchange betel leaves and nuts to formalize the marriage agreement.
2. Kaashi Yatre: This is a pre-wedding ceremony where the groom pretends to leave for Kashi (a holy city in India), and the bride’s father convinces him to stay and marry his daughter.
3. Dev Karya: This is a ceremony where the bride and groom perform a puja to invoke blessings from the gods.
4. Haldi: This is a pre-wedding ceremony where a paste of turmeric, sandalwood, and other ingredients are applied to the bride and groom to ward off evil spirits.
5. Kashi Yatre: This is a ceremony where the groom goes on a mock pilgrimage to Kashi, and the bride’s father convinces him to return and marry his daughter.
6. Kanyadaan: This is the moment when the bride’s father gives her hand in marriage to the groom, symbolizing the transfer of responsibility for the bride from her father to her husband.
7. Mangalsutra: This is a ceremony where the groom ties a mangalsutra (sacred thread) around the bride’s neck, symbolizing her status as a married woman.
8. Saptapadi: This is a ritual where the bride and groom take seven vows, while walking around the sacred fire.
9. Gruhapravesha: This is the ceremony where the bride is welcomed into the groom’s home, and the couple takes their first steps together as a married couple.

Kannada weddings are known for their elegant and traditional clothing, with the bride wearing a silk sari and the groom wearing a silk dhoti-kurta. The ceremonies are accompanied by traditional music and dance, and the emphasis is on hospitality and community, with many customs designed to bring the families of the bride and groom together. Kannada weddings are typically held in a mandap (wedding canopy) decorated with flowers and other auspicious items.