History of Indian Wedding

Marriage is the secure institution for the perpetuation of the species and also for maintaining the property granting rights. In India, arranged marriages are a centuries-old tradition dating back to the fourth century. The culture of arranged marriage is considered a foundation stone of the Indian marriage system. In ancient times, marriages often took place at the time when the bride and groom were in their adolescent age. The boy's parents searched for a suitable girl with the help of middlemen and approached the girl's parents with a proposition.

The middlemen or negotiators suggested suitable dates and hours of marriage according to the birth charts of the couple. In that era, generally, marriages took place in the hometown of the girl and the bride's family acted as a host for the groom's family.

Certain references to polygamy and polyandry are visible in Hindu marriages because of various political as well as social reasons. At that time, falling in love before marriage was more than a crime; still, we can find traces of affectionate relationships between princes and princesses.

The tradition of Swayamvars arranged by the kings for their daughters came into existence in the middle ages. During that era, swayamvars were considered a modern way of choosing grooms on the basis of their abilities and also provided brides with a chance to make their own choice.

The right of selecting bride and groom for both men and women has gone through a period of transition due to social changes, wars, diversity in cultures, etc. Later on, marriages turned into materialistic deals with the emergence of the dowry system. The dignity of women was lost and she became just another commodity to be exchanged in lieu of a social and moral burden on her family. References to the marriages in ancient texts clearly suggest that the Aryans were monogamous.

You can also find traces of polygamy and polyandry in the Mahabharata, the Hindu epic. Marriage was compulsory for all girls in medieval India; however, the girls opted for asceticism as an exception. Polygamy was popular among the Kshatriyas.

Child marriage was not prevalent in ancient India but became a common phenomenon in the medieval age because of political anarchy at that time. The prevailing modernization and globalization have changed the status of women in society, which has brought the revolution against the malpractices of women in the name of marriage.

It was a common belief that the woman has to stay with the groom's family after marriage, although, some couples prefer to live alone. The groom was supposed to look after the needs of the bride for the rest of her life.

The selection of the couple was generally based on Shastri ideas, according to which, the bride's parents not only searched for good deeds in the boy but also considered his family, education, social behavior, etc. The custom of Indian marriage has gone through tremendous change, but the essence of this tradition is still the same. This sacred institution is made to blind the two souls together for a lifetime.