Arranged Marriages
Arranged marriages are so called because they are arranged by the parents or other relatives of the boy and girl who are to wed. The common procedure is to check if both the boy’s and girl’s background match.
Then other factors come into play, such as the education, wealth, religion, diet and horoscopes of the girl and boy.If these factors match, the consent of the girl and boy is sought, through a general meeting of both the parties. If both the parties agree to the marriage, a suitable date for engagement is fixed.
Let us examine the pros and cons of this type of marriage.
Pros:
In many cultures, arranged marriage is a tradition handed down by many generations. This system of marriage is as old as time itself! Many people believe that the divorce rates of arranged marriages are lower than that of love marriages. When compared to love marriages, arranged marriages are relatively stable as the matchmaking involves more factors of comparison, not merely the individual’s whims.
Modern arranged marriages also takes into consideration the individual boy and girl’s consent. They are allowed to go out together before engagement. They get ample time to meet and get to know each other before marriage. These marriages are usually for religious minded people since priests or astrologers are consulted.
Cons:
With changing times, trends change. Attitudes of people, especially the younger generation change.Arranged marriages are no exceptions. Nowadays, the chances of finding a suitable boy through arranged marriage are pretty slim. Many western societies consider this kind of “forceful” marriage as condemnable.
Conclusion:
The goal or purpose of any kind of marriage is to raise a family. The type of marriage an individual is willing to undertake is entirely dependent on the individual’s psychology and attitude towards life. Parents can be trusted in making the best match for their children. Modern day arranged marriages take place on the internet.
One can register at certain wedding portals. Then, one can communicate with the other party through e-mails and chats. Thus, today’s groom to be has to be well aware of the choices he makes. After all as one said, “A happy man marries the girl he loves; a happier man loves the girl he marries.”
