Marriages in India has always been a topic of discussion. People like to hear or keen to know, how the marriages were formalized i e if the marriages were arranged or loved. India is always known to be country were most of the marriages were arranged. It is a culturally significant system where families facilitate marriage, prioritizing long term stability and cultural continuity, with increasing involvement and consent from the individuals marrying. While love marriages start with romance between the individuals, arranged marriages build connection through trust, respect, open communication, and shared goals after the union begins. It used to be a lengthy time consuming process but quite fruitful. People from abroad countries always find such marriages quite strange. But the tradition still continuing in many parts of India. However, now things slightly changing. Thanks to social media influences which are changing the traditional dynamics to a greater extent.
Marriage in India is often seen as a union of two families, not just two individuals, with parents taking primary responsibility for finding a suitable match. The process involves :
- Introductions,
- background checks,
- family meetings,
- an engagement
- a wedding.
The match is often chosen through some leads from the known one. In the traditional system, there is no match maker involved. Relatives of the families becomes the suitable matchmakers like aunts, uncle or distant relatives. They propose potential matches, often within similar social strata, caste, or religion, acting as sponsors. Parents or relatives notice someone is of marriageable age and start discussing suitable partners, considering education, career, and family background. Once the family is satisfied with the compatibility in factors like caste, religion, socio-economic status, education. The marriages is formalized. Families initiated the process by reviewing horoscopes and backgrounds, followed by an engagement ceremony (Roka / cheka) to finalize the match.
Same traditions, new rules.
If I look back at my home, everyone has the arranged marriage and they are living happily. However, the modern lifestyle is bringing about a change. Thanks to the social media which is making arranged marriages more of a friendly affair. Earlier, the couples were un-familiar with each other. There was no means to contact each other. But now they get to know each other through social media. It is not wrong to say that, social media has not eliminated arranged marriages but has modernized them. It has created a more collaborative process where tradition provides the safety net, and technology offers the freedom of choice. Even it helps to know the individuals as most of the people like to flash their lifestyle on social media account.
The new-age arranged story. 📜✍️
Few days, ago my brother got a reference of a boy for her daughter from a relative. Rather than approaching the families or relatives to know about the boy, he started filtering out the social media account to know more about the boys. The pictures, the friends circle, if the boys is alcoholic or not or if he has any other relation. But in earlier times, there was no such option available, and the marriages were formalized merely on spoken words and trust that boy is suitable for alliance. Social media is easing the job but also changing the dynamics. There were many instances that few people make use of the oppurtunity to exploit the girls sexually or the girls exploit the boys by blackmailing through different means. At the end such marriages broke before they ever happen. And those who succeed the test of patience survives for last. But still there are possibility that the partners certain expectation from each other depending upon their social media account status. Unable fill up those expectation may end up spoiled marriages.
Real, raw, & arranged.
Social media is actually transforming arranged marriages from a family driven process into a hybrid model favoring individual autonomy, increased choice, and deeper compatibility assessment through virtual means. The process has shifted from reliance on family elders to individual driven, app-based searches, empowering users to set their own criteria. However, they have transformed the process from a "blind" choices, to a more informed decision-making process for modern couples.
In good faith - Peace!!
