इंडियन Wedding

Ceremonies, festivals, rituals, customs whatever we call them, they have a certain characteristic of their own. Times might transform situations and eras pass by or civilizations alter; the attribute for celebration would never go away from the human race. More multifaceted the societies, more effervescent are ways to follow the events and that`s why Indian celebrations look so bright and vibrant. Indian marriages display a wide mixture of customs supporting her ethnic and linguistic diversity. Though throughout, a lot of religious differences are seen on a lot of different levels, the institution of marriage is considered a necessity in following a philosophical responsibility towards the culture. If it`s believed that marriages are made in heaven, one would further accept it as a truth looking at Indian marriage ceremonies. Every rite we perform has certain significance towards a long lasting bond of relationships between individuals and families, rather between two souls. It is understood that marriage is the only acceptable mean to enter in a man-woman relationship to follow the duty of procreation and for spiritual growth

The custom of the bride and the groom wearing garland to each other in formal mutual acceptance has become a very important part of the wedding ceremony though is not mentioned in the Vedas. It originates from the Svayamvara practice prevalent in early centuries. After this, the bride and groom sit in the mandapa next to each other before a sacrificial pit and the ritual of Kanyadana takes place. The bride is given to the groom by her parents - the father of a father figure in the family in abscence of her father. The bride`s father first symbolically gives her to God. The bride`s guardian takes her hands and places them in the groom`s, transferring his responsibility for her to the groom. The groom assures her father that he will not be false to her in dharma, artha, or kama. After this, the groom ties Mangalasutra around the bride`s neck. The marriage ceremony then enters its most important phase, the saptapadi - taking seven steps together. With the sacred fire as the witness, they exchange the wedding vows. Legally, the marriage is now final and binding.

Legend behind the saptapadi goes that during the wedding of Lord Shiva and Parvati, Shiva asked Parvati to come to his left after the agni pradakshina, symbolizing that they had been married. Parvati said she would not accept this as a marriage until Shiva granted her seven wishes. Shiva did so, and then made seven stipulations, which Parvati accepted.
Dowry System in Indian Marriages can be called the commercial aspect of the marriage. The practice of giving dowry was very common among all people of all nations. A girl gets all the domestic utensils that are necessary to set up a family. Dowry system in India was prevalent since the Vedic period. In Epic period gifts from parents, brothers and relatives and relatives were recognized as woman`s property - stridhan. According to Kautilya "Means of subsistence or jewellery constitutes what is called the property of the woman. it is no guilt for a wife to make use of this property in maintaining her son her daughter-in-law or herself if her absent husband has made no provision for her maintenance".

Considering the evils of dowry system, the dowry prohibition Act 1961 was passed in India. According to the Act if a person gives or takes dowry then he is liable to be punished for an imprisonment and fine. If a person demands directly or indirectly dowry from the guardians o the wife after the marriage has been solemnized then such a person is liable to be punished for an imprisonment of six months and a fine of Rs. 5000.

Today, in India both divorce and remarriage are completely legal, whereas polygamy and polyandry are both criminal offences for Hindus, punishable by law. The Islamic personal law of Sheriat allows up to four wives for a man, and it is legal for a Muslim to have multiple wives in India.

Marriage, a strong bond, a relationship between a man and a woman. It relies on the pillars of love, complete trust and faith in the spouse. Marriages in India are known with different names like Parinay, Shaadi, Vivah, Kalayanam, and Lagna, etc