During the Bale Shaastra ceremony, the bride prays to the goddess of prosperity – Lakshmi. She is an important deity in Hinduism, who is often portrayed with four hands. Her hands stand for the four goals of life: kama (desire), artha (wealth), dharma (duty), and moksha (liberation). They also represent the four Vedas. Her symbol is the lotus which speaks of rising above worldly desires and remaining pure even when everything around you is negative. The lotus is a lesson in looking above material wealth and aiming for spiritual growth. As Lord Vishnu’s wife, Lakshmi is also the goddess of purity, fertility, and beauty. By praying to her, the bride is asking for her blessing for a happy, beautiful, and spiritually fulfilling married life. 

This ceremony also shows the cultural, religious, and emotional importance of bangles for married Hindu women. Bangles are deeply intertwined with marriage in Indian culture. Similar to Western wedding rings, bangles are a sign of marital status. It is isn’t mandatory for women to wear them daily, but traditionally, bangles are a symbol of womanhood. Married women also wore them for the safety and good fortune of their husbands. 

Bale Shaastra is an intimate, beautiful ceremony. Depending on her community and style preference, the bride will wear a specific type of silk saree. She can choose from one of Karnataka’s many traditional sarees, such as Ilkal, Molakalmuru, and Mysore silk sarees. 

Ilkal sarees are associated with North Karnataka and date back to the 8th century. It gets its name from Ilkal, a weaving town in Bagalkot. These sarees are distinguished by their pallu, which typically have red hues with white temple motifs. The pallu also features patterns like hanige (comb), koti kammli (fort ramparts), toputenne (jowar), and rampa (mountain range). Occasionally, the middle portion has kyadgi or striped designs, while the border is often red or maroon, embellished with traditional chikki, gomi, paraspet, and gaddidadi motifs. These sarees use a lot of geometric shapes, such as rectangles and squares, that are further decorated with kasuti embroidery. The ample length of the saree allows women to wrap it around their heads, as per local tradition.

Molakalmuru silk sarees are known for their luxurious texture, delicate butta (motifs), and gold zari. Crafted using a three-shuttle technique, these sarees feature contrasting colours between the pallu, border, and body. Common motifs include hamsa (swans), rudrakshi (rudraksha seeds), vanki (arrow), lotus, peacock, mangoes, and gandabe.

Perhaps the most popular of all Karnataka sarees are Mysore silk sarees. Made from pure silk and embroidered with pure gold and silver threads, they are coveted around the country for their quality and technique. Regarded as one of the most elegant sarees, Mysore silk sarees also come in crepe de chine and georgette varieties.