Index IntroductionTopics for discussionConclusionIntroductionMan is a social animal and is not suited to living alone. Marriage is one of the most basic and important social institutions of Indian society and also an important phase in one's life. The concept of marriage varies from state to state, community to community and from time to time. In India marriage is considered a sacrament and not a mere civil contract. It is considered not only as a union between a man and a woman, but as the union of two families. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get Original Essay According to HT Mazumdar, “Marriage is a socially sanctioned union of male and female, or as a secondary institution devised by society to sanction the union and mating of male and female, for the purpose of establishing a family , engaging in sexual intercourse, procreating and providing for the care of offspring”. Horton and Hunt define marriage as “the approved social model according to which two or more people constitute a family”. Topics for discussion Emerging change in marriage Marriage is a constant institution but has and is undergoing drastic change.Marriage has evolved considerably over its long existence.Many changes have been observed in the development of India. Ancient India was a mandatory topic of life, due to the influence of Western culture, people prefer a cohabitation relationship rather than getting married. Earlier people were not allowed to have love marriages or inter-caste marriages. But with the changing times, the mindset of people has changed and now people accept the concept of love marriage, inter-caste marriage, inter-faith religions and even the concept of same-sex marriage. Although it was permitted, it was never considered as sacramental as the first. The Widow Remarriage Act of 1856 brought about a change and allowed widows to remarry. Thanks to the tireless efforts of social reformers and educated people, this practice began to be accepted on a large scale. Ceremonies and Celebrations Celebrating wedding rites and rituals only with family members was the past concept of wedding celebration but with the changing times marriage has changed. become a 5 day event where people invite all their friends and family and celebrate by spending huge amounts of money. Pre-wedding photoshoots, wedding planning, destination wedding, wedding dresses, etc. They are the trending factors today. Stability of marriage. Divorce in specific circumstances was permitted after the introduction of the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955. Traditionally, society did not allow dissolution of marriage. Previously, women could not even think about divorce and today they resort to breaking the marital bond. Child Marriage During the Middle Ages it was prevalent to marry a girl under the age of 12 to adults. People thought that girls were irrational and irresponsible in love and might take steps or perform acts that could jeopardize the honor of their clan, so they preferred to put them in the marital bond at a young age. People from all strata of society started following this trend as they believed it to be a pious act. The Child Marriage Restraint Act of 1929, also known as the Sharada Act, mentioned the age of marriage for boys as 18 years and for girls as 14 years. The act was later repealed. The Prohibition of Child Marriage Act of 2006 raised the minimum age for boys to 21 and for girls to 18. Today theEarly marriage has become a rare scenario. Women have become more educated, independent and rational. They too, like men, want to work and have a career and prefer to get married only when they feel like it and no one can put pressure on them. Education broadened people's minds and they became more liberal. Parents now want their child whether male or female to study and build their own future and marriage has taken a second position now. Urbanization and industrialization have led to this important transition. Dowry System The goods and money that a bride brings to her husband's house after marriage are called dowry. In the past this system was adopted voluntarily out of gratitude and love, but over time it began to take the form of a necessary evil custom of society. This concept has caused a lot of unrest in the prevailing society. Parents who could not meet the demands of the groom's family were scorned, and the daughter often resorted to suicide. Domestic violence, mental and physical torture, etc. became general newspaper headlines. A law against this system was passed in 1961. This law brought many changes; people feared punishment and avoided the practice. However, this system could not be completely eradicated from Indian society. Still in some parts of the country dowry is taken in one form or the other. Although the graph has shown a decline, this act still prevails. Conclusion Factors leading to the current scenario of the institution of marriage: Industrialization – The rapid growth of industries has had a huge impact on the institution of marriage. With the employment of men in every field, industrialization brought women to the limelight and they too started working in industries. This progress made women more independent and no one could command them or force them to marry. Working in industries has given women another advantage: choosing the marriage partner of their choice. Urbanization: Growth in urban centers or cities leads to influence marriage. In rural areas, marriage is more of a religious and necessary ceremony while in urban places it is more of a social ceremony. In the current scenario, couples prefer cohabitation to marriage. This urbanization factor has also led to an increase in the number of divorces in cities compared to villages. It also provided a wide range of premarital and extramarital affairs. Education played an important role in marriage. Both men and women today are educated, which leads to having strong opinions and points of view. Even in the case of marriage, the young person makes the sole decision on who to marry, how to get married, etc. Education has broadened the mindset and people instead of performing mythical rituals opt for a simple marriage. Education should even lead to the elimination of dowry but unfortunately in India the situation is totally opposite. If a man has a higher educational qualification, the demand for dowry is directly proportional. Being educated also makes people aware of various laws and legislations which lead to an increase in cases of separation, divorce, etc. Legislation: Reforms in the beliefs, ideas and rituals of marriage have brought a drastic change in the concept of marriage. Laws in India have been enacted based on various aspects. Below are some of the most notable laws passed in various time periods: Keep in mind: This is just one example. Get a custom paper from our expert writers now. Get a custom essay prevention of sati act, 1829- Widows in ancient times were forced to die in pyres.