Most of us know what a blind date is. Some of us have even been on one, but what about a blind wedding?
Arranged marriages have been a custom in India since 500BC, set up as business contracts between parents, but when technology leans its weight on traditional practice, things are bound to change.
India’s technology boom is well documented, but its affect on the long-established practice of arranged marriages is less so.
With social media being the new face-to-face interaction, the blindfold is being lifted before couples walk down the aisle.
Arranged marriages are no longer the only route to a successful wedding in India, love marriages and self-arranged marriages also take place, but traditional arranged marriages remain prominent.
In urban India, an engaged couple is encouraged to spend time together and develop a romantic relationship. But in rural India, things remain more traditional. A courtship is encouraged, but dating is not allowed.
Groom tells all
Joel, a groom-to-be from Maduri, India, said while dating is frowned upon, he often chats to his fiancé on the phone.
“Phones are everywhere in India, everyone has one. Her parents have no way of knowing if she is talking to me or one of her friends,” he said.
Typically when a woman is in her early 20s and a man is considered set-up in his career, a suggestion is made that now would be a good time to marry.
Someone in the family takes on the role of wedding sponsor and contacts a matchmaker. Horoscopes are charted and cast, religion, physical appearance and professional status are considered. If all goes well, a match is suggested.
The two families and the soon-to-be bride and groom meet and the couple gets their first glance and are able to speak to each other, albeit chaperoned. If all goes well an engagement is announced.
Although not as strongly enforced as it used to be, in rural India engaged couples are still discouraged from meeting each other too frequently.
Enter Facebook
But, Joel said technology has changed arranged marriages in India forever as he can now scroll through the Facebook page of his fiancé.
“There was a time when couples only had a few conversations with each other before getting married, now I can look at her photos and see what she is writing to her friends, I feel I know a lot about her, even though we have only met a few times,” he said.
