Question

Visit any 10 families in your locality and ask any two elder family members about differ-

ent rituals performed in marriage 15-20 years back and now. Based on your visit write a

detailed comparative report about how marriage practices changes in last 15-20 years?​​

Answer 1

Marriage and family are key structures in most societies.

What is marriage? Different people define it in different ways.For our purposes, we’ll define marriage as a legally recognized social contract between two people, traditionally based on a sexual relationship and implying a permanence of the union. In practicing cultural relativism, we should also consider variations, such as whether a legal union is required (think of “common law” marriage and its equivalents), or whether more than two people can be involved (consider polygamy). Other variations on the definition of marriage might include whether spouses are of opposite sexes or the same sex and how one of the traditional expectations of marriage is understood today.

I visited nearly 10 families in my locality to ask about their views and rituals performed in marriage 15-20 years back. Most of them told that:


Many Hindu weddings start with the milne (meeting) and swagatam (welcome) ceremony. This ritual is where the baraat (groom's procession party) arrives at the bride's home or the location where the bride is and marriage will be celebrated. The baraat typically includes dancing and joyous members of groom's family, relatives and friends. On their arrival, there is a ritual where key persons from the groom's side and bride's side are introduced to each other. The introduction is typically followed by jai mala (garland exchange between bride and groom) and a reception that serves food and drinks.

Many other rituals and ceremonies are sometimes found in Hindu weddings, such as madhuparka, vivaah-homa, agni-parinayana, asmarohana, laja homa, abhishek, anna-prashashan, and aashir-vadah.All these ceremonies are carried out at the wedding location, typically at or near the bride's home.These additional rituals include the participation of the brothers, sisters, maternal/paternal relatives, guardians, or friends of the bride.

Some rituals involve rice or other grains, seeds and pastes. In these ceremonies, rice is thrown at the bride, groom or they kick a container containing the grain. Rituals include darshan, where the newly married couple are met, blessed and greeted by family and friends of the bride and groom.

After the Hindu wedding is complete, the bride leaves for groom's home via groom's car. In groom's car, bride and groom sit together, and groom's younger brother drives the car. Bride's sisters also come with groom's family, when they arrive to groom house where Hindu family members of the groom welcome the newly wedded couple in a ritual known as grihapravesa (home coming/entry).This ceremony typically requires participation of the mother, father, brothers, and sisters, or other guardians of the groom.

Before marriages extended at least till two weeks and now a days it can take max 1 week and minimum 1 day to have done.
Now a days many rituals are not performed.

Hope this will help you:)