indian marriage

India is a diverse, multi-cultural country with people of various religions and sects living together in harmony and peace. Each religion has its own set of rites and rituals, traditions and multitudes of customs inherited from ancestors. These are further mingled with the flavor of each state of India.
Arranged marriages have been part of the Indian culture for centuries. Although some people from western culture probably view this tradition with amusement, generation after generation, this custom has been embraced by millions of Indians living in India and abroad.














For every Hindu, Christian, Muslim, Sikh, Buddhist or Parsi, marriage is a sacred event of ones life. For the bride and the groom this is their first step into the Grihastha Ashram (Householder stage of life). Now they are ready to extend their family and pass on the values and traditions they have gained from their parents. For an Indian, marriage is a life long commitment between the husband and wife, who are considered one soul in two bodies.


Marriage is an important social event for the family. It is considered as a perfect occasion to bring together relatives and dissolve any differences that may exist. It is not only a union of two souls and two individuals but also of two families and in some cases union of two villages. Indian marriages are celebrated on a grand scale. The ceremonies and rituals for a marriage can in some communities start months before the actual marriage. It is a way to bring the families of the boy and the girl together and in the process get to know each other.
The rituals embodied in the Marriage ceremony can vary with customs of different regions of India yet some underlying similarities unifies them all. It is interesting to note the similarities in some of the rituals across the religions. In almost all religions, the groom comes to the girls house for the marriage in a ‘Baarat’. In Hindus, the father performs the ‘Kanyadan’ which means he gives his daughter away to the groom in holy matrimony. In Christians, the father accompanies his daughter down the aisle towards the groom.In Muslims, during the ‘Rukhasat’ the father gives the hand of his daughter in the groom’s hand with the request of protecting her for life. Exchanging garlands and rings are other rituals that signify the mutual acceptance of the bride and groom. Flowers in the form of garlands or bouquets and blessings in the form of showering rice are part of the rituals found mostly across all religions. Another element that is common in all Indian marriages is the wedding vows or the promises the brideand groom make to each other. The vows are taken in the presence of the holy priest and it is witnessed by all the relatives and friends.
Commonalities and differences apart, the marriage ceremony which is the oldest custom of mankind is celebrated with pomp, grandeur and a great deal of festivities in India.



Source:Hindustanis.org