Marriage is a very powerful institution as it social set up which makes ma and woman
as responsible citizens of the society. They live as family, follow the moral values
and try to keep the tradition going. The main purpose for conducting lavish marriages
is to inform the society that they are man and wife hence and that they will live
together as responsible human beings. In Hindu tradition weddings are looked at
as holy matrimony between the gods. Marriages are made in heaven they believe and
hence it is based on spiritual and cultural values of our nation.
Especially in an arranged marriage it is grand ceremony wherein the couple takes
the vow before Agni or the fire god to stay united. Amidst all the far and near
relatives and friends they make a commitment to stay together life long. A whole
lot of sacrifices, adjustments and changes are what goes into a wedding. Overall
it is a group commitment among both the families of the couple to stand united and
make the marriage work.
The joint family system is ridiculed and looked upon as a wonderful culture in our
society by the westerners. For them living together with aunts, uncles and nieces
are simply impossible. The family value and bonding is missing in the west. But
that is our strength in the east. The family members help one another and act as
mentors and guides for youngsters who need their help and counsel. Minor misunderstandings
are sort out with open and transparent talk.
Even if the couple happens to stay away from the family for job purpose, they do
visit during festivals and family events. We have not completely got use to the
nuclear system in India as the west. The elders are always ready to lend a helping
hand and the youngsters for their part respect and follow their elders in every
walk of their lives. That is why our family and marriage system still works.
The effort needed to keep the family together and the marriages intact is not considered
as burden. Everyone makes an adjustment to improve the quality of their relationships
and festivals play a major role in bonding the families. The memories of these festive
celebrations then act as catalyst until the next year of festivity arrives. Marriage
is a 100 year crop they say, and just imagine the kind of effort needed to make
this crop stand upright all these years?