NCERT · Class 10 · Hindi · Kshitij Poetry: KanyadaanHow is the depiction of a daughter's wedding in 'Kanyadaan' different from traditional wedding poems?

The depiction of a daughter's wedding in the poem 'Kanyadaan' is remarkably different from traditional wedding poems because it shatters the conventional, romanticized notion of a farewell. Traditionally, wedding songs and poems focus on the ornaments, clothes, emotional crying of the bride, and glowing praises of the groom's family, often portraying the bride's future as an absolute fairy tale. In stark contrast, poet Rituraj presents a realistic, grim, and cautionary picture of a woman's future in a male-dominated society. Instead of focusing on superficial happiness, the mother in this poem is deeply worried about her daughter's safety and well-being. She gives her practical lessons on endurance, self-respect, and resistance against oppression. This realistic approach makes 'Kanyadaan' a unique and progressive literary piece that addresses the harsh truths of domestic life rather than indulging in sentimental idealism.