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Marriage In Indian Culture Biography
Marriage is a sacramental union in the Hindu faith. "One is incomplete and considered unholy if they do not marry" (Parakasa 14). Because of these beliefs, many families begin marriage preparation well in advance, with the help of "kinsmen, friends, and 'go-betweens'" (14). Most females are married before puberty, with almost all girls being married before 16, while most boys are married before the age of 22 (Gupta 146). However, couples normally do not consummate the marriage until three years after the marriage ceremony (146). The legal age for marriages is 18 for females and 21 for males (MC Donald). The Male's family is responsible for seeking the female. "A majority of Hindu marriages take place outside of their home village" (146). The Male's family is responsible for arranging the marriage. Like Muslim arranged marriages, the Hindu culture uses a matchmaker to help find possible matches. Once a match is found and arrangements met, the two families meet to discuss dowry, time, and location of the wedding, the birth stars of the boy and girl, and education (McDonald). During this time, the males of the family huddle in the centre of the room, while the perspective couple sits at the periphery of the room and exchange glances. If the two families agree, they shake hands and set a date for the wedding (McDonald).
Most Hindu pre-wedding ceremonies take place on acute, the most spiritual day for marriages. The ceremony often takes place early in the morning, with the male leading the female around a fire (pun it) seven times. After the ceremony, the bride is taken back to her home until she is summoned to her husband's family house. Upon her arrival, her husband's mother is put in charge of her, where she is to learn the inner workings of the house. During this time she is not allowed to interact with the males of the house, because she is considered pure until the marriage is consummated. This period of marriage can range from three to six years (McDonald).
Arranged Marriage Matchmaker in India
The traditional arranged marriage matchmaker is called a nay an (Parkas 21). The matchmaker is normally a family friend or distant relative who serves as a neutral go-between when families are trying to arrange a marriage. Some families with marriageable age children may prefer not to approach possible matches with a marriage proposal because communication between families could break down, and could result in accidental disrespect between the two families (Ahmad 68). Matchmakers can serve two functions: marriage scouts, who set out to find possible matches, and as negotiators, people who negotiate between families. As a scout and negotiator, a family sends the nayan into the community to seek possible matches. The matchmaker considers "family background, economic position, general character, family reputation, the value of the dowry, the effect of alliance on the property, and other family matters" (Prakasa 15). Once a match is found, the matchmaker notifies his or her clients and arranges communication through him or her. Communication is facilitated through the nayan until some type of agreement is met. Depending on the region, an actual meeting between the families takes place, to finalize the marriage agreement, while also allowing the couple to see each other (22).
Once a marriage agreement is met, the nayan may be asked to assist in the marriage preparations: jewelry and clothing buying, ceremonial set-up, and notification of the marriage to the community (Ahmad 68). The nayan usually receives no pay for his or her services, but may receive gifts: clothing, food, and assistance in farming from both families for the services they provide (69).
Newspapers, the Internet, television ads, and social conventions serve as the modern nayan (Prakasa 22). Indian families in metropolitan cities use the mass media as go-between as a way of bridging cultural gaps, in areas where there may be a small Indian population.
Dowries in India
Dowries originally started as "love" gifts after the marriages of upper caste individuals, but during the medieval period the demands for dowries became a precursor for marriage (Prakasa 61). The demand for dowries spread to the lower caste, and became a prestige issue, with the system becoming rigid and expensive. The dowry system became a tool for “enhancing family social status and economic worth” (61). Prakasa notes five purposes of the dowry: (1) provides an occasion for people to boost their self esteem through feasts and displays of material objects; (2) makes alliances with the families of similar status; (3) helps prevent the breakup of family property; (4) gets a better match for daughters; (5) furnishes daughters with some kind of social and economic security (61-62). The expensive nature of dowries has helped raise the marriage age in the middle and lower caste because families have not been able to meet dowry demands, and has also forced some families "to transcend their caste groups and find bridegrooms from other sub caste and different caste" (62).
There are some disadvantages to dowries. Families may suffer financial hardships due to the expensive nature of dowries. They may not be able to afford dowries, therefore prohibiting their children from marriage, causing "girls to occasionally commit suicide in order to rid their fathers of financial burdens" (62). Because of social instances like these, many consider "the dowry system as a social evil and an intolerable burden to many brides' families"(62).
As a result, the Dowry Prohibition Act of 1961 was passed. It decrees, "to give, take, or demand a dowry is an offense punishable by imprisonment and fines" (77). A dowry is also defined as "any property or valuable security given or agreed to be given either directly or indirectly by one party to a marriage to the other party to the marriage, or by the parents of either party to a marriage or by any other person, to either party to the marriage or to any other person at or before or after the marriage as consideration for the marriage of the said parties" (Diwan 77). The law does make the following exclusion: "any presents made at the time of marriage to either party to the marriage in the form of cash, ornament, clothes or other articles, do not count as a dowry" (77). These items are considered wedding gifts. The law does create the following loop hole; "the giving or taking of dowry does not affect the validity of the marriage…if the dowry is given, the bride is entitled to it, but the person giving it is punished by law if discovered" (77).
Marriage In Indian Culture Biography
Marriage is a sacramental union in the Hindu faith. "One is incomplete and considered unholy if they do not marry" (Parakasa 14). Because of these beliefs, many families begin marriage preparation well in advance, with the help of "kinsmen, friends, and 'go-betweens'" (14). Most females are married before puberty, with almost all girls being married before 16, while most boys are married before the age of 22 (Gupta 146). However, couples normally do not consummate the marriage until three years after the marriage ceremony (146). The legal age for marriages is 18 for females and 21 for males (MC Donald). The Male's family is responsible for seeking the female. "A majority of Hindu marriages take place outside of their home village" (146). The Male's family is responsible for arranging the marriage. Like Muslim arranged marriages, the Hindu culture uses a matchmaker to help find possible matches. Once a match is found and arrangements met, the two families meet to discuss dowry, time, and location of the wedding, the birth stars of the boy and girl, and education (McDonald). During this time, the males of the family huddle in the centre of the room, while the perspective couple sits at the periphery of the room and exchange glances. If the two families agree, they shake hands and set a date for the wedding (McDonald).
Most Hindu pre-wedding ceremonies take place on acute, the most spiritual day for marriages. The ceremony often takes place early in the morning, with the male leading the female around a fire (pun it) seven times. After the ceremony, the bride is taken back to her home until she is summoned to her husband's family house. Upon her arrival, her husband's mother is put in charge of her, where she is to learn the inner workings of the house. During this time she is not allowed to interact with the males of the house, because she is considered pure until the marriage is consummated. This period of marriage can range from three to six years (McDonald).
Arranged Marriage Matchmaker in India
The traditional arranged marriage matchmaker is called a nay an (Parkas 21). The matchmaker is normally a family friend or distant relative who serves as a neutral go-between when families are trying to arrange a marriage. Some families with marriageable age children may prefer not to approach possible matches with a marriage proposal because communication between families could break down, and could result in accidental disrespect between the two families (Ahmad 68). Matchmakers can serve two functions: marriage scouts, who set out to find possible matches, and as negotiators, people who negotiate between families. As a scout and negotiator, a family sends the nayan into the community to seek possible matches. The matchmaker considers "family background, economic position, general character, family reputation, the value of the dowry, the effect of alliance on the property, and other family matters" (Prakasa 15). Once a match is found, the matchmaker notifies his or her clients and arranges communication through him or her. Communication is facilitated through the nayan until some type of agreement is met. Depending on the region, an actual meeting between the families takes place, to finalize the marriage agreement, while also allowing the couple to see each other (22).
Once a marriage agreement is met, the nayan may be asked to assist in the marriage preparations: jewelry and clothing buying, ceremonial set-up, and notification of the marriage to the community (Ahmad 68). The nayan usually receives no pay for his or her services, but may receive gifts: clothing, food, and assistance in farming from both families for the services they provide (69).
Newspapers, the Internet, television ads, and social conventions serve as the modern nayan (Prakasa 22). Indian families in metropolitan cities use the mass media as go-between as a way of bridging cultural gaps, in areas where there may be a small Indian population.
Dowries in India
Dowries originally started as "love" gifts after the marriages of upper caste individuals, but during the medieval period the demands for dowries became a precursor for marriage (Prakasa 61). The demand for dowries spread to the lower caste, and became a prestige issue, with the system becoming rigid and expensive. The dowry system became a tool for “enhancing family social status and economic worth” (61). Prakasa notes five purposes of the dowry: (1) provides an occasion for people to boost their self esteem through feasts and displays of material objects; (2) makes alliances with the families of similar status; (3) helps prevent the breakup of family property; (4) gets a better match for daughters; (5) furnishes daughters with some kind of social and economic security (61-62). The expensive nature of dowries has helped raise the marriage age in the middle and lower caste because families have not been able to meet dowry demands, and has also forced some families "to transcend their caste groups and find bridegrooms from other sub caste and different caste" (62).
There are some disadvantages to dowries. Families may suffer financial hardships due to the expensive nature of dowries. They may not be able to afford dowries, therefore prohibiting their children from marriage, causing "girls to occasionally commit suicide in order to rid their fathers of financial burdens" (62). Because of social instances like these, many consider "the dowry system as a social evil and an intolerable burden to many brides' families"(62).
As a result, the Dowry Prohibition Act of 1961 was passed. It decrees, "to give, take, or demand a dowry is an offense punishable by imprisonment and fines" (77). A dowry is also defined as "any property or valuable security given or agreed to be given either directly or indirectly by one party to a marriage to the other party to the marriage, or by the parents of either party to a marriage or by any other person, to either party to the marriage or to any other person at or before or after the marriage as consideration for the marriage of the said parties" (Diwan 77). The law does make the following exclusion: "any presents made at the time of marriage to either party to the marriage in the form of cash, ornament, clothes or other articles, do not count as a dowry" (77). These items are considered wedding gifts. The law does create the following loop hole; "the giving or taking of dowry does not affect the validity of the marriage…if the dowry is given, the bride is entitled to it, but the person giving it is punished by law if discovered" (77).
Marriage In Indian Culture
Marriage In Indian Culture
Marriage In Indian Culture
Marriage In Indian Culture
Marriage In Indian Culture
Marriage In Indian Culture
Marriage In Indian Culture
Marriage In Indian Culture
Marriage In Indian Culture
Marriage In Indian Culture
Marriage In Indian Culture
Marriage In Indian Culture
Marriage In Indian Culture
