Weddings in India are happy events that are usually celebrated with lots of decorations, bright colors, music, dancing, special clothing, and traditions. These traditions depend on the community, area, and religion of the bride and groom, as well as their personal choices. India has about 10 million weddings each year, and around 80% of these are Hindu weddings. About 90% of marriages in India are still arranged. Even though love marriages are becoming more common, especially among younger people, arranged marriages remain the most common way to find a marriage partner in India.
A daughter's wedding can often be the most expensive event in an Indian family's life. Some estimates show that families may spend more than six times their yearly income on the wedding. Most of these costs are used for dowries and the wedding celebration. Experts say these expenses are strongly influenced by social traditions and the desire to show social status.
Ceremonies in Hinduism
In Hinduism, there are many festival-related rituals. However, vivaah, which means wedding, is the most long and detailed personal ritual a Hindu person participates in during their lifetime. Hindu families often use a lot of time and money to prepare for and celebrate weddings. The rituals and process of a Hindu wedding can be different based on the region in India, local traditions, the family's resources, and the bride and groom's preferences. However, some important rituals are common in most Hindu weddings. These include Kanyadaan, which is when the father gives away his daughter; Panigrahana, where the bride and groom hold hands near a fire to show they are about to become a couple; and Saptapadi, where the couple takes seven steps near a fire, making promises to each other with each step. After completing the seven steps and making their vows during Saptapadi, the couple becomes legally married. Jain and Buddhist weddings in India have similar themes, but they focus on the religious beliefs and teachings of each tradition.
Other religions
Indian Sikh marriages take place during a ceremony called Anand Karaj. During this event, the couple walks around the holy scripture, the Guru Granth Sahib, four times. They then perform the Ardās prayer and offer praise.
Indian Muslim weddings follow traditional Islamic customs. Key rituals include Nikah, a marriage contract, the groom’s payment of Mahr (a financial gift to the bride), and a reception for guests.
Indian Christian weddings follow Christian traditions. Among Protestants, a betrothal rite marks the engagement, with prayers for the couple and engagement rings blessed by a pastor. In North India, a day before the wedding, the Haldi/Ubtan/Mayun ceremony occurs, where turmeric paste is applied to the bride and groom. In Goa and South Canara, the Roce ceremony takes place, using coconut paste on the bride and groom. Among Bombay East Indian Christians, the Umbracho Pani ceremony happens before the wedding, where the bride and groom are bathed with water drawn from a well. On the wedding day, the couple meets at a church in front of a priest. Bible passages are read, and the couple exchanges vows. They then share wedding rings, symbolizing their love.
Interfaith marriages in India, particularly between Hindus and Muslims, have faced legal challenges in some states, as well as harassment and concerns about violence.
Marriage age
In the past, people often married during childhood or early teenage years. Today, the legal age for marriage is 21 for males and 18 for females. However, the average age when people marry is usually higher, with males marrying between 23 and 28 years old and females between 20 and 25 years old. Arranged marriages have been common in Indian society for a long time. Even now, most Indians have their marriages planned by their parents and other older family members. Recent studies show that Indian culture is changing. Fewer marriages are arranged without the couple’s agreement, and most studied Indian marriages are arranged with the couple’s consent. The number of self-arranged marriages, called love marriages in India, has increased a lot, especially in cities like Mumbai and Delhi.
Wedding industry
Weddings are an important part of the business in India. A report from KPMG in 2017 said the Indian wedding industry is worth about $40–50 billion. This makes India the second-largest wedding market in the world, after the United States, which has a market worth $70 billion. The industry is not well organized, with many small and medium-sized businesses, but some large companies are also trying to join this market. The main reasons for the industry's growth include the growing middle class in India, a strong and expanding economy, and the use of social media. The cost of an Indian wedding can range from ₹500,000 to ₹50 million, which is about US$6,747 to US$674,744. On average, Indians spend about one-fifth of their total lifetime wealth on a wedding.
Many Indian celebrities choose to have destination weddings, and the public often follows their example. Both local and international locations are popular choices for weddings in India. The destination wedding industry in India was expected to reach ₹450 billion in 2020.
Pre-wedding photography and wedding photography have become important parts of Indian weddings. The average cost for a day of wedding photography can range from ₹15,000 to ₹100,000.