Arranged marriages have the tradition in Indian society for centuries.
Even today overwhelming majority of Indians in India have their marriages
planned by their parents and other respected family-members, with
the consent of the bride and groom [1]. Arranged matches were made
after taking into account factors such as age, height, personal values
and tastes, the backgrounds of their families (wealth, social standing)
and their castes and the astrological compatibility of the couples'
horoscopes. The institution of marriage in India is considered a very
important one. In general both the parents and the young people feel
that since they were older and wiser than their progeny, they would
be able to find a suitable match for their children with more prudence
than the latter. Although most marriages are arranged, some couples
in India are opting for love marriage in urban areas. Among the overseas
Indians, many marriages are still arranged with the assistance of
the parents[2]. Even the so called love marriages in India generally
happen with the approval of the parents, although their blessing may
sometimes be reluctant. In India, the marriage is thought to be for
life[3], and the divorce rate is extremely low, 1.1% compared with
about 50% for USA[4]. The arranged marriages generally have a much
lower divorce rate. The reason for the low rate of divorce could be
the social stigma that follows the divorcees. Most women would much
rather stay in- for example- a violent relationship in order to steer
clear of a divorce's stigma. The divorce rates have risen significantly
in recent years: "Opinion is divided over what the phenomenon means:
for traditionalists the rising numbers portend the breakdown of society
while, for some modernists, they speak of a healthy new empowerment
for women."[5] Hindu arranged marriages Hindu Dharma accords paramount
importance to marriage between two people found compatible, and on
an auspicious day, chosen to be compatible with the bride and the
groom, with the blessings of the elders and in the presence of gods,
so that the couple will flourish and walk in dharma, and any progeny
conceived after such elaborate rituals would be a blessed soul and
good human being. Once the parents of both bride and groom agree with
each in which all the relatives and known circle are called from both
sides as a witness and to bless, then in that engagement function
itself a date is fixed for marriage as per bride and grooms horoscope
and astrologically auspicious day, the priest will announce to all
that both the family are agreed to the acceptance of marriage of their
son/daughter on the particular date. Then in the name of god both
the families exchange fruits and cloths as a symbol of happy acceptance.
An auspicious day is chosen in accordance with the religious almanac
and the bride and the groom's horoscopes, also if it is moon's phase
(ascending is preferred by some) apart from any other logistical consideration.
The wedding is conducted in accordance with Vedic rites [6] and rituals[7]
with the invited guests considered to be the 'society' in whose presence
the girl is given away in holy matrimony to the boy. From that moment
on, he is to consider himself responsible for fulfilling her smallest
of small desires to the biggest of them, to the best of his ability.
He promises to be faithful to her and to worship the ground she walks
on. She in turn is to treat him as her lord and master, her guide
and advisor through good and bad, for the rest of her life.