arranged marriages

arranged marriages

INTRODUCTION
The marriage ceremony is one of the oldest traditions that persist today. This essay will discuss the different makings of Hindu marriage customs. It will look at nearly all aspects of the weddings that are typical of Indian culture. As well as an exploration of the history of weddings in India. Including a look into arranged marriages as well as love marriages. It will touch on everything from the selection of the couple to wedding attire. Many in India consider marriage not only a sacrament but a very important part of the human circumstance, binding not only in this life but in the spirit world as well.
HISTORY OF WEDDINGS IN INDIA
From the wisdom of the Vedas regarding marriage, we discover that young people are
considered ready for marriage after reaching their teenage years. In later times brides were
married often in childhood. This was conceivably a result of foreign invasions of North India.
The marriages were allowed as a means of shielding the girls from the enemy.
“Marriage is one of the important social institutions in India. It is not only a union of two
individuals but also an alliance between two families thereby bringing about a new network of relationships. It is a threshold for family formation, family building and population growth. Marriage is considered as a sacred duty by the major religious doctrines (Hinduism, Islam and Christianity) and thereby it is universal in Indian society. According to the Hindu religious scriptures, the religion followed by most of the people in India, the main purpose of marriage is the performance of dharma in addition to the continuation of the family and the lineage.” (Audrinarayana & Sheela. 2003)
In medieval India marriages were required for all girls. Brahmin girls were married between the ages of eight and ten years old from the sixth century to more modern times. The Child Marriage Restraint Act of 1929-1978 states that the legal age for marriage is 18 years old for females and...