Or, alternatively, I am seeking a pandit who will do traditional ceremonies without kanyadaan. I have heard of a group of Bengali priestesses who do such a traditional marriage rite but cannot find any information about how to contact them or make a booking inquiry. Someone who can also explain things in English to non-Indian guests would be greatly appreciated.
Family is based in Mumbai but will be having a small family ceremony in Rajasthan (50-75 people). Bride is from America, and not Indian background (she is white, and has deep spiritual beliefs but is not religious in terms of being patron of a specific organized religion. she has a deep faith in what she defines as "divine feminine grace and miracles").
Groom's side is Jain and has had traditionally arranged (as in, arranged marriage) Hindu weddings with all the family. Groom is the first not marrying with an arranged marriage. He wants to keep the important family traditions, and the bride respects them, but due to a complex and difficult family history wishes to keep her father out of the wedding traditions (he is an athiest, divorced, boisterous, and generally prone to what can become dangerous and even violent emotional volatility).
For further cultural background Groom's side (Kutchi traditional family) thought it was not possible to have a wedding without kanyadaan. The family pandit told them this. Bride has done her own research and of course, has found some priestesses who hold a lineage of divine feminine grace that resonates with her. Only problem is she does not have contacts to find them, and perhaps due to hate mail they do not have much of an online presence.
Does anyone have any advice, or know any pandits who could be of help?
