Marriage is the legally recognized union between a man and a woman who live with each other as husband and wife. This is the text book meaning.
In reality marriage is something way more deep at an emotional level. In this, two people vows to stay with each other through sickness and health. Marriage is also known as Wedding. Hindu marriage is a marriage that normally occurs in India.
Hindu people have a lot of rituals in every festival and also in marriage which is why it is specified as Hindu Marriage. There are so many rule that the bride and groom have to follow during the ceremony which last approximately three days.
However, the number of days a ceremony will last is not fixed as they depend on the Hindu calendar. Hindu marriage is also called vivaah sanskar.
Hindu marriage between two individuals which signifies their union is recognised by the law. It joins the families of the bride and groom together. The colour that is favourable in Hindu marriage is red and yellow or gold (especially red).
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Arranging the Marriage
The marriage in Hindu society is arranged by the families in 90% cases. During the time of arrangement, the two families match the Janam Kundali (astrological chart based on the placement of the stars and planets at the time of the birth) with the help of Brahman or pandits.
If the Janam Kundali does not match, then the marriage between those two individuals gets cancelled. Maximum numbers of points of a Janam Kundali that can match are 36 and the minimum numbers of points are 18. Only after the pandits give their permission after matching the Kundali, the two families confirm the marriage between the two individuals.
After confirming the marriage, the families looks for suitable date in which the marriage ceremony will be held and once that is confirmed, the families finally starts the preparation of the marriage.
Marriage ceremony
On the day of the marriage ceremony, the bride and groom’s families follow different procedure of starting the ceremony. Both the families even require a mini bride and groom in which little children takes part, as a part of the ritual.
Image Credit: Source (Hindu Wedding Rituals)
During the night, before the time of the Muharat or the time in which the marriage ritual should start, the groom along with his family comes to the bride’s place and then when the time comes, the bride’s father does kanyadaan in which he in front of the fire gives his daughter’s hand to the groom for the next seven life times.
Groom’s mother cannot come to the bride’s place and watch the ceremony as she is forbidden to do that so she stays in her home and prepares to welcome her daughter-in-law who will arrive the next day with her son. That night the groom along with a few of their family members stays at the bride’s place.
The next day after some rituals, the bride is taken from her house by the groom in a car decorated beautifully with flowers. After the bride reaches the groom’s house, they follow some rituals that do not take place in the bride’s home.
The next day is the final day of the marriage ceremony in which the bride’s family come to visit the bride in groom’s house with lots of gifts which falls under the rituals on Hindu marriage. That night is finally considered as the wedding night and the end of all the marriage rituals and ceremony.
After eight days of all the rituals, the bride then visits her parents along with the groom for another ritual which is called astamangalla. This is also a part of the ritual of Hindu marriage. After this is over, finally all the rituals are completed. Hindu marriage means a lot of rituals to be followed by the bride and groom along with their families.
Types of Hindu marriage
There are eight types of Hindu marriages. They are –
- Brahma Marriage
- Daiva Marriage
- Arsha Marriage
- Paishacha Marriage
- Rakshasa Marriage
- Prajapatya Marriage
- Asura Marriage
- Gandharva Marriage.
All these marriage has different rituals which is what makes them so different like for example Brahma marriage can only happen between people who are Brahmins.
Hindu Marriage Act, 1955
The Hindu Marriage Act was passed on 1995. The Parliament of India passed this act. The main purpose for passing this act was to amend and codify the law relating to marriage among Hindus and others. This act also includes separation and divorce in it. This act can be applied to (according to the Section 2 of the act) –
- to any person who is a Hindu by religion in any of its forms or developments, including a Virashaiva, a Lingayat or a follower of the Brahmo, Prarthana or Arya Samaj;
- to any person who is a Buddhist, Jain or Sikh by religion; and
- to any other person domiciled in the territories to which this Act extends who is not a Muslim, Christian, Parsi or Jew by religion, unless it is proved that any such person would not have been governed by the Hindu law or by any custom or usage as part of that law in respect of any of the matters dealt with herein if this Act had not been passed.
Conclusion
Hindu marriage and its rituals vary from region to region but the main rituals remain the same. During the marriage, the bride wears a beautiful banarasi saree along with lots of jewels and one garland. Just like the bride, the groom wears dhoti and punjabi in a special way along with a garland.
The rituals are very important for the Hindus and all the rituals are done by the bride and groom’s family in presence of a Brahmin so that no mistakes are made. During the marriage, all the relatives of the respective families come at one place which makes the marriage very lively and full of spirit.
Hindu marriage is quite famous along the world because of its unique rituals and these makes even some foreigners want to marry following Hindu rituals. Hindu marriage is quite popular all over the India.
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