
A Twitter user took to the website to show her joy and pride over a wedding she attended recently in West Bengal. She spoke about being at a wedding where the pundits were female, now that’s a big step forward. It’s surprising no one has come forward to give ‘Pundit’ a female derivative. And the father of the bride refused to perform his daughter's Kanyadaan stating that she is not property to be handed over.
With the changing day and age, people are becoming more progressive with heightened awareness. The internet has also been doing its fair bit to advance this cause. As people point out, we’re slowly inching our way towards a feminist-friendly world. It is instances like this that really gets us to think of the possibilities that used to once be impossible. Tradition and culture are finding itself in a phase of many mends to fit the present mindset.
Another similar incident was noted where a bride had refused to do the Kanakanjali ritual. This is a ritual where the bride tosses some rice over her head to signify that she has paid up all her debts. Her explanation to it was that we are ever indebted to our parents. Both these instances happened coincidentally at Bengali weddings.
There was a beautiful picture that had broken the internet some time back, of this single mother performing her daughter’s Kanyadaan.
Take a look at the tweet:
I'm at a wedding with female pandits. They introduce the bride as the daughter of <mother's name> and <father's name> (mom first!!!). The bride's dad gave a speech saying he wasn't doing kanyadaan because his daughter wasn't property to give away. ??? I'm so impressed. pic.twitter.com/JXqHdbap9D
— Asmita (@asmitaghosh18) February 4, 2019
After this was posted a lot of love was showered upon the tweet and as usual came the many hate messages. Some people called it distorting Hindu Traditions, and anti Hindu Agendas.
Here are some reactions to the post:
Nice..?
— Kumar Ankush (@ankushthebest10) February 4, 2019
In my family, we have two family Priest, one is Dalit n another one is Yadav(my caste). All things from marriage to death, rituals are performed by them.
My family has leave all kinda evils like dowry, unequal status e.t.c......4 generation ago, ?
This is amazing! Is it possible for you to get more details? ? I have a friend who would be VERY interested.
— Tanvi Bhakta (@tanvibhakta_) February 4, 2019
To which the family sent out a clarification on twitter explaining that this was done in the Gandhava style.
Here are the tweets and the clarification:
.Can someone tell this lady and the father of the bride that Kanyadan doesn't mean giving away a woman like property. Do some research , u guys need to understand rituals and traditions. Stop flaunting all this ...
— Barkha Trehan (@trehan_barkha) February 5, 2019
I am simply not impressed ..
Stop propagating anti Hindu agendas.
But Barkha, such crackpots are not new. Ancient times we had one Rishi Charwak who always preached against the existing policies: was contrarion. These ppl are like @taslimanasreen : they criticise merely to stay in news!
— Priyesh (@priyesh_irs) February 5, 2019
The bride's father wanted me to post this clarification regd the right wing hate: Deciding not to do kanyadaan was an ideological decision that he believed in. But it also has scriptural sanction — read about Gandharva marriages. So hopefully this shuts the trolls up :). ?? pic.twitter.com/IIR3hxcZiX
— Asmita (@asmitaghosh18) February 6, 2019