HINDU WEDDING
This afternoon I almost did not take my camera when Ram and
I went on our afternoon walk. I did out
of habit. As it turned out we came upon
a new bride and groom on their way to Golu Devta Temple after their wedding
ceremony was completed. You will notice
the bride is crying. This is partly due
to tradition. In earlier times the marriage
was arranged when the girl was very young.
Ram's mother was fourteen when she was married. The new bride cried when it came time to
leave the only home she ever knew to go to her in-law’s and husbands home. Now the bride must be eighteen and the groom twenty
one before they can legally marry. This still is most likely an arranged marriage. She may have meant the groom once or twice. She would have had the opportunity to say no. She will be leaving her family and going to
the home of her new in-laws and groom, strangers. This home will become her home. Her parents-in-law will treat her like own their
daughter. They honor her because she will, in time, mature and care for her
husband and his parents as they grow older.
If the groom has any siblings, there will be much laughter and teasing
between the bride and her brother and sister in-laws. The bride will slowly grow into the role of a
wife. She will at first care for any
Younger children in the home and be given small household tasks to complete.
