india
- This is a preview of the essay.
To view the full text you must login!
India
In our society marriage is a bonding of two people that have an absolute love for each other, but in the Punjabi society it is more than that, when you are apart of the Hindu religion you are not able to choose your wife or husband. In this religion your parents spend your first 14 to 16 years of life looking for a wife or husband for you. People in India do not have the right to choose who they love or not, it is all about your family finding you a partner in your own cast and they make sure you have a good bonding with this family. There is no other life-event that is more surrounded by tradition than marriage. Throughout India, marriages are arranged by the couple's families, and a generation ago it was not uncommon for the bridegroom to meet for the first time at the wedding ceremony.
But now the personal preferences of the young people in India are given greater opportunities, and families accept the children's' wish to get to know the potential spouse before making a commitment. Even though marriage in India represents a very strong, lifetime commitment and society accepts divorce only in the most extreme circumstances, Marriage in India is still a powerful bonding. After the couple has made up their mind to marry, the first step is a simple ceremony called a rokai or thaka. The girl's father takes some friends and relatives and visits the young man's house and presents sweets and a small gift of money. The engagement ceremony, or mangani, takes place when the boy's family returns the visit and in the presence of friends and relatives the intended marriage is announced...