Love Marriage

In modern India, the name given to a
marriage fixed by the bride and groom
themselves, rather than an arranged
marriage fixed by parents or guardians.
Although Western romantic notions
consider a love marriage the preferred
method, many Hindus consider love
marriages suspect. Love marriages carry
the stigma of rebellion—children usurping the role traditionally played by their
parents. It is sometimes thought to present the danger of inter-caste marriage
and the likelihood that the marriage will
be rooted in lust or infatuation, thus
rendering it potentially unstable. The
family is considered the foundation of
society; anything undermining its stability is viewed quite dimly. Love marriages are becoming more common
and accepted among modern Hindus,
especially in the larger urban areas.
Arranged marriages, however, remain
far more common.