Indian culture is very diverse. Different types of weddings within Hindu marriage is an example of this diversity

So you thought that only different religions (Hindus, Muslims, Christians) have different trends for weddings? It may surprise a few to know that different wedding trends are followed with the same religion as well. The reputed wedding institutes like Arya Samaj marriages are conducted for Hindus by following the rituals of the bride and groom. Below are some examples of different wedding trends in Hindu marriages:

·         In Brahma marriages, groom's eligibility is decided by the knowledge of Vedas. Wedding is preferred only after the boy has completed his student-hood so that he can take care of his family after marriage

·         In Arsha marriage, either sages or priests are preferred for marrying the girl

·         Prajapatya Marriages are conducted in a simple manner without any major monetary transactions

·        Besides these, there are other forms - Gandharva marriage, Asura marriage, Rakshasa marriage, Paishacha marriage etc. But these forms are not considered as proper as money is more important here. At times, the bride is married to the groom against her wishes

Arya Samaj Mandirs have worked for the betterment and up-lift-ment of the society and the women. Still, the evils are prevalent in our society. Arya Samaj Mandirs in Sonipat were built with the objective of empowering people to decide and get married without any hassles. This has contributed in making the life of people much better and easier. The marriage is absolutely legal and cannot be challenged anywhere in the world. This has given a new ray of hope to the people who find it difficult to oppose these unreasonable and age-old traditions followed by people.

Are you making enough efforts to make your marriage work?

You hear it everywhere that marriages are not as successful today as they used to be ten years back. Your parents and grandparents must have told you innumerable times that the divorce rate has gone up to unprecedented levels today. You may also have heard about many reasons behind this - busy lifestyle, changing culture, increasing stress etc. But people fail to see that the sanctity of marriage is not dependent on time or years, it only depends on the people.

There are many cities like Noida that have advanced with time but this advancement need not come at the cost of nuclear families, single parents, hatred in the society. No one wishes to stay alone by choice, then what is the reason behind this? Is there no solution to make a marriages work? Why has this become so difficult for people today? Many people and institutions are playing an important role in improving our freedom helping people in becoming independent in life. For instance, Arya Samaj mandir in Noida have enabled many young couples to get married within a few hours at a nominal cost.

Every marriage, be it a love marriage or arranged marriage, goes through some ups and downs that people involved have to handle. In an arranged marriage, you need to give time to your partner to develop understanding and respect for each other. On the contrary, people are busy blaming and complaining about small things. Time is the best teacher and can answer all your problems. This is also applicable for love marriages. At the same time, you also need to express and let the other person know in case of any problems or discomfort. Adjustment is the key to success here.

Arya Samaj marriages in Noida have also witnessed the same story. People go there for love marriage and inter caste marriage as they feel that they have the right and capability to select their life partner. But this confidence fades after sometime. A marriage changes everything aspect of life and will make your life beautiful but this comes at the cost of some sacrifice and high commitment.

We have heard about difference in lifestyles in the cities and villages in India. How different are the weddings?

We all wish to see progress in the nation - villages and cities alike. The general trend in India has been that people from villages travel to cities for a better living. The older people, on the other hand, boast of the age-old traditions and culture in villages that has been carried forward by many generations. Wedding is considered as the most important event of a person's life everywhere as this one decision changes the life of the couple forever. While the motive is same but people follow different rituals in cities and villages.

For instance, there is an increasing trend of elaborate weddings in Haryana but is defined differently at different places. In villages, many rituals are conducted before and after the wedding. They conduct pujas before marriage so that the marriage is completed in a smooth manner. The relatives get involved in every little preparations that goes on for at least a week. On the other hand, in cities people focus more on spending extravagantly by hiring wedding planners and the marriage is spread over 2-3 days only. In big cities, people have time constraints and therefore, all the rituals are modified and made as concise as possible.

The reason behind this difference is mainly due to different attitude. People in villages in Haryana give more importance to relations and hence, do not invest much amount on the decorations and lighting etc. But this tradition is being adopted in cities also. People are now realizing the waste of money and time in making the wedding day so special. Moreover, institutions such as Arya Samaj has also helped to change this whole attitude towards wedding. For instance, Arya Samaj marriages in Haryana have increased in the recent past. This makes it easy for people coming from villages as well as cities to go to the nearest Arya Samaj Mandir in Haryana and apply for a legal wedding at minimal expenses. This way, people will get to invest more in their future and make their lives happier and more beautiful.

Love marriages can be made extremely wonderful with your parents' consent

There is nothing wrong with choosing your life partner yourself. Even the Indian society has also started accepting love marriages. At the same time, the couples should also understand that this decision need not always come at the expense of the happiness of your parents. Every problem and issue has a solution if thought about properly and with a calm mind. At least you should try to explain and convince your family before taking this extreme decision. 

This is every person's dream that his/ her wedding day is the most special and memorable day. But how can this be your most special day if your family is not there to share these moments with you? The person whom you choose as a life partner will be there for you for the rest of your life but your family has supported and stayed with you till the time you become mature enough to take your decisions. Arya Samaj in Delhi has also shown support for love marriages and inter-caste marriages but they do not state that love marriages is meant to be without their parents' consent.

If you know that you are right and can give a rational explanation to justify your decision, then people will also understand you. The most important point is that you get an ideal person for marriage. Arya Samaj marriages also provide a platform to come and tie their wedding knot in a very simple and inexpensive manner. These can be arranged marriage, love marriage, inter-caste marriage etc. Today, the traditions have changed and seen a shift in the recent past in India. This is the reason that Delhi has seen a huge increase in the number of love marriages.

The modernization has shown us how to improve our thinking and quality of life. The amount of opportunities that we see today would have been unimaginable a decade ago. But it is our responsibility that this change should not harm the relationships that is the foundation of our life. Hence, try to convince your family and get your parents' consent before tying the knot. Always remember that wedding is a very special day not only for you but your family as well.

Are Hindu marriages and Arya Samaj marriages the same?

There is a lot of buzz about Arya Samaj marriages as they have different aspects - hassle free marriage, economical, instant process, open for all castes etc. Arya Samaj has its roots in Vedas which are considered as completely divine and hence, does not differentiate between castes and religions. Arya Samaj Mandirs were established in different parts of the country with a view to eradicate social evils such as child marriage, dowry, untouchability, women discrimination etc. These are some features and beliefs of an Arya Samaj mandir. But what is it that differentiates these from typical Hindu culture and traditions?

Firstly, Arya Samajis do not believe in idol worship. The belief is that God is formless and hence, cannot be defined in any shape or form. The holy books Ramayana and Geeta are read to gain knowledge but not as sacred text books. This is the reason that on the biggest festival of Hindus - Deepavali, lights are lit in Arya Samaj Mandirs but there is no Lakshmi Pooja. While looking Arya Samaj Mandir in Gurgaon, you will also notice that there is no similarity in Arya Samaj mandirs and Hindu temples. A typical Arya Samaj mandir looks like a hall with some photographs of Swami Dayand, founder of Arya Samaj in 1875 and no sign of any bells, deity, offerings.

In Arya Samajmarriages in Gurgaon, Havan is one of the most vital parts of the ceremony. It is held for purification by chanting Vedic mantras. A person who wishes to become Arya Samaji need not be born into it. It is just about your beliefs and values. For non-Hindus, they are converted into Hindus through a simple process called as Shuddhi (purification) and after this, anyone who agrees to subscribes to Arya Samaj values.

Arya Samaj is here to reform the society but this will not be possible without the help and support of people. So, anyone who agrees to the ways and motives of the institution can come ahead and be a part of this revolution in the Indian society.