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Unit 14: Mate Selection in India and West

Notes

What do you know about Anuloma and Pratiloma Marriage?

14.3 Mate Selection in the West

In Christians, a girl of 13 years and a boy of 16 years is permitted to marry religiously, but gener-
ally late marriage is practiced among them. Sri S.K. Gupta has said on the basis of a survey that
52.5 % of Christian marries between the age of 21 to 25 and 17.5 percent marries above 30 years,
but no marriage is noticed in the age below 20 years. It is clear that in Christians, the persons of
20 years and above are only found married and no practice of child marriage is found among
them.
In Christians, marriage is done among all except among blood relatives. Christian males can
marry to his sister of deceased wife, widow of deceased brother, daughter of the brother or sister
of his deceased wife. There is no prohibition of widow marriage in them, widows are permitted
to marry again. In Christians, there is no custom of “dowry” or “bride-price” like Hindus or
“Mehar” like in Muslims.
In Christians, the selection of life-mate is in more independent atmosphere. This selection is
made by parents as well as by boy and girl also. In traditional Christian marriage, this selection
is made by parents mainly. Youths make love as their aim, in front of which they never pay
heed to the relations of family, society, religion and caste. There is no any special region that
in marriage relation the youth don’t take the property of their parents or don’t believe in them.
In Christians, in the selection of life-mate, generally the acknowledgement of parents is taken.
In modern time, in urban areas, the boy and girls are playing important role in the selection of
life-mate. Now days, even parents also give consent to the choice of their sons and daughters
regarding selection of life-mate.

In ‘Voice of Christ’, it is said that our youths have to take help of their
parents. In youth, the emotion of pride and sacrifice is abundant.

14.4 Marriage Ritual among Christians

In Christians, the marriage is considered as a holy bond of whole life, in which no place of di-
vorce is their. This marriage is a holy union of a male and female. In these people, there is no
practice of more than one wife or husband. For marriage, when the life-mate is selected finally
and when the proposal of the groom side is accepted by the bride side, then the sacrament of
engagement is accomplished. On any definite day, the bride side and groom side with their rela-
tives and friends reach Church. The groom side carries sweets, coconut, clothes, ring and money
etc. with them. The bride and groom sat side by side and the Christian priest reads some part
of bible. Here in a formal way, the bride and groom obtains the acknowledgement for marriage
relations. Both of them, exchange ring to each other and the announcement of engagement is
done on this occasion. After this, sweet distribution, refreshment etc. followed.
For the marriage sacrament, the bride and the groom or any of them has to give application to
the officer of the church, in which there is a brief description of both the families. On receiving
such application the officer of the church publishes a notice regarding the marriage so that if
anyone has any objection about this marriage, he can make the objection. After 96 hours, from
the publication of the notice the marriage can be accomplished. If there is no objection regarding

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