King Gyanendra and Queen Komal Wednesday evening gave away their only daughter, Princess Prearana, to Kumar Raj Bahadur Singh in a vedic ritual called ” Kanya Daan” when the parents and relatives of the bride wash the feet of the bride and groom. The ceremony took place at 7.31 PM amid the chanting of vedic hymns.

On the occasion, the King wore a crown as a royal salute was presented and mantras were chanted.

Queen Komal poured water on the feet of the bride and groom in a “jhari’ or a jug. Crown Prince Paras, Crown Princess Himani and Queen Mother Ratna also washed the feet of the bride and groom.

Earlier, the King and Queen received the groom when he entered the Narayanhiti Royal Palace at 4.30 PM in a carriage to fetch his bridge. The groom drove past cheering crowds to the Palace from Chawani. Relatives, including the parents of the groom, accompanied Kumar Raj Bahadur Singh to the Palace.

The King accepted the groom at an especially built mandap in the Royal Palace premises. Royal relatives, Prime Minister Lokendra Bahadur Chand and heads of constitutional bodies, foreign guests and diplomats were present on the occasion.

The groom returns to Chawani with his bride Thursday.