Varapooje (also spelled Varapooja or Vara Puja) is a significant pre-wedding ritual in a traditional Karnataka Brahmin wedding. It literally means “worship of the groom”. In the Varapooje, the bride’s family formally welcomes the groom and his family, treating the groom as an embodiment of Lord Vishnu. The ritual symbolizes the bride’s family’s acceptance of the groom as a worthy partner for their daughter.

The word Sangeet means “music,” and the event is centered around music, dance, and celebration. • Family and friends of both the bride and groom gather to sing, dance, and perform skits or songs that celebrate the couple’s love story. • It serves as an opportunity for both families to bond in a relaxed, festive atmosphere before the formal wedding rituals begin.

The pre-wedding reception is a celebratory event held before the wedding ceremony to introduce the couple to extended friends and relatives This event blends tradition with modernity and allows both families to celebrate together before the formal wedding rituals begin

The wedding event—known as Mangalya Dharana or Vivaha—is the central and most auspicious part of the celebration. It is typically conducted in the morning or early afternoon during a muhurtam (auspicious time) chosen by a priest. Key rituals include: • Kashi Yatra: A playful ritual where the groom pretends to renounce worldly life, only to be stopped by the bride’s father who offers his daughter in marriage. • Kanyadaanam: The bride’s parents formally give her hand to the groom, symbolizing their blessings and trust. • Mangalya Dharana: The groom ties the mangalsutra (sacred thread) around the bride’s neck, marking the moment of marriage. • Saptapadi (Seven Steps): The couple takes seven symbolic steps around the sacred fire, vowing mutual love, respect, and duty. • Homam: Sacred fire rituals and offerings to Agni (fire god) to invoke divine blessings. • Blessings: The couple seeks blessings from elders, family, and deities for a prosperous married life. The ceremony is rich in mantras, symbolism, and tradition, typically conducted in Kannada or Sanskrit, and is followed by a grand wedding feast (maduve oota). It’s a blend of devotion, ritual precision, and family celebration.