In the social hierarchy of her new family, the bride usually holds one of the lowest ranks. She owes obedience and submission to all her predecessors, especially her stepmother. But, according to this principle of hierarchy, the young submissive wife, who, at times, suffer at the hands of her stepmother, will take some revenge by behaving in the same way with her own stepdaughters, provided that she has given birth to boys, thus preserving the social structure. In traditional society, and especially in rural areas, the birth of a girl is not desired and is considered a burden because a dowry, although forbidden by law, will be expected for her future marriage. One still lists many cases of female infanticide and in the traditional upper classes,
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Sita has a unique place in the minds of most Hindus and attests to the power and the predominance of traditional feminine ideal. In fact, every Indian woman has heard of the myths of Sita, her purity, her selfless dedication to her husband, and her total fidelity. As such, extroverted women in India may “feel trapped in, and experience a higher degree of conflict in, Indian arranged marriages because of the cultural norm that recommends wives be docile, submissive and limited to household activities” (Jaiswal 150). The ideal of the perfect wife found in Indian mythology despite the progress of education, urbanization and modernization, is reflected not only by an exclusive dedication to her husband and to a lesser extent to his parents, but also by the desire to give birth to male children. If, unfortunately, the wife does not fulfill her duty as a mother, her husband can remarry with the full consent of his community. In the most traditional backgrounds, infertility is still a curse, and an infertile woman brings …show more content…
But this ancient tradition has a much deeper meaning than the noisy, colorful and exotic image transcribed by Bollywood productions or tourist stories. Marriage is a very important sacred ceremony in Hindu culture dating back to over 4,000 years, and above all, is the most important of the thirteen Samskaras. In Hinduism, each rite of passage marks a milestone in the life of an individual from before their birth to their death, enabling them to live a fulfilling life full of happiness and content. This event is therefore an important issue for the individual, their relationship with the community, and for the cohesion of the community. Therefore, marriage is primarily a social and religious event, which processes ancestral rules, setting in details the course of the wedding that is placed under the Gods’
Sita has a unique place in the minds of most Hindus and attests to the power and the predominance of traditional feminine ideal. In fact, every Indian woman has heard of the myths of Sita, her purity, her selfless dedication to her husband, and her total fidelity. As such, extroverted women in India may “feel trapped in, and experience a higher degree of conflict in, Indian arranged marriages because of the cultural norm that recommends wives be docile, submissive and limited to household activities” (Jaiswal 150). The ideal of the perfect wife found in Indian mythology despite the progress of education, urbanization and modernization, is reflected not only by an exclusive dedication to her husband and to a lesser extent to his parents, but also by the desire to give birth to male children. If, unfortunately, the wife does not fulfill her duty as a mother, her husband can remarry with the full consent of his community. In the most traditional backgrounds, infertility is still a curse, and an infertile woman brings …show more content…
But this ancient tradition has a much deeper meaning than the noisy, colorful and exotic image transcribed by Bollywood productions or tourist stories. Marriage is a very important sacred ceremony in Hindu culture dating back to over 4,000 years, and above all, is the most important of the thirteen Samskaras. In Hinduism, each rite of passage marks a milestone in the life of an individual from before their birth to their death, enabling them to live a fulfilling life full of happiness and content. This event is therefore an important issue for the individual, their relationship with the community, and for the cohesion of the community. Therefore, marriage is primarily a social and religious event, which processes ancestral rules, setting in details the course of the wedding that is placed under the Gods’