In this new era, marriage is all about choice and commitment. The boy and girl choose each other and willingly enter a contract. Breaking of the contract constitutes divorce. The traditional Hindu marriage is neither about choice nor contract. It is an arrangement made between families and a mandatory duty for both the boy and girl. More and more young people want to know the essence of traditional Hindu marriages. Often they do not like because the traditional wedding ceremonies are designed in times when social structures were very different. These marriages were designed for joint families. It was a patriarchal society where women were seen as dependents. A man could marry and remarry but these rules are denied to women. But a man also not completely free; he is bounded by the rules of his family and his religion. The marriage ceremony continues to be highly symbolic and is full of agricultural emblems as India is primarily an agricultural country. For example, man is considered to be the farmer and the woman is considered to be the field. The child born from their union is called crop. Such ideas might be disturbing for women in these modern times.
Variation in Hindu Marriages:
Nowadays the standardization of Hindu marriages has been changed. There are many variations in Hindu marriages according to religion, caste and location. Every community has their own style. There are not many variations but still there is some. Traditionally, marriages are held after the four months of the rainy season. It is heralded by the ceremony known as Tulsi-vivah, when Lord Vishnu represented by sugarcane gets married to the Tulsi plant that represents Lakshmi. This event takes place in the month of October. Marriage ceremony begins with the engagement. Traditionally, most marriages were arranged by parents and the bride and groom did not see each other until the marriage ceremony. The engagement usually involved exchange of gifts before a deity in a temple. Today, following western practices, rings are exchanged in the presence of friends. Between the engagement and marriage, the bride and the groom are invited by friends and family to have meals to celebrate the last days of single. This culminates in the ceremony known as sangeet, primarily a North Indian ritual, which has become pan- Indian. This because of Bollywood Industry. This involves singing and dancing by the women of the family. It is usually held in the girl’s house and does not involve the groom.
Significance of Mehendi:
The marriage ceremony begins with Haldi-snana and Mehendi. This involves preparing the groom and the bride for the marriage and held in their respective houses. Both are anointed with turmeric paste and bathed with fragrant water by the women of the household. The idea of this ritual is to make the girl and the boy attractive for the wedding night. This was an acknowledgment of the physical desires of the couple. Mehendi or use of henna came to India from Arabia. After the bride and groom are prepared, both are asked to invoke their respective ancestors. This ceremony is especially important for the bride, as after marriage, she serves the interests of the groom’s ancestors and breaks all ties with her own.
Different perceptions in Indian Marriage:
The time of the marriage varies dramatically in different parts of India. In Southern region marriage typically takes place at dawn while in the East it takes place post dusk. The actual marriage begins with an invitation usually sent as a scroll to the groom usually presented by the bride’s brother. In Odisha, the bride’s brother is called the Vara-dhara, he who brings home the groom. The invited guests or groom come in a procession. Rajput grooms carry a sword, sometimes selected by the bride. The grooms in North India came on a mare, and are covered with garlands so that no one sees their face. The men accompanying the groom in many parts of India use the occasion to drink and dance. This is the called Baraat.
After all Hindu marriage ceremony is considered to be the best marriage ceremony in India. Although there are different perceptions in different places but the wedding ceremony is considered to be the great event in one’s life in India.
Marriages in Hindu community is truly a scared relationship. Thanks for sharing your valuable thoughts on Hindu marriages. Keep sharing good post.
ReplyDeleteHindu Marriage is a ritual that celebrates with full of sprit. In this ceremony not only two opposite genders but also two families get into a happy relationship. Thanks for sharing such a useful information.
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