Marriages- Past and Present

Many many centuries ago, I believe, when there was no caste, rituals and creed; people weren’t educated and there was no society, they must have fought a lot to differentiate themselves from others, to prove their humanity. There would have been lots of murders, thefts and wars. It would have been a male dominated world and women would have been treated as prisoners and kept hidden from others. It can only be assumed that they were hinged with hefty chains and locked in a room.


I wonder how would have the population increased then, were there marriages? If yes, then even they wouldn’t have been peaceful. Win a war and snatch a girl away. The man would have come with his armors and sword on a horse with all his family and relatives, fought a war with the other family and on winning the war, takes the young girl away with him.




The family of the female would have been unhappy, since they used to consider the females, their wives and daughters as their own property and a loss of it meant a major loss to the entire family. In the end, the girl’s neck would have been tied with thick chains and her waist with another. Hands were handcuffed, legs were manacled and nose nailed. She’d have been assembled like a luggage and the man would have carried her on his horse. Also, the wealth of the girl’s family would have been looted, leaving them deprived of the girl and the riches. Thereby, the girl’s family and relatives were left sad and crying.


Even today, I wonder, do such things happen? I doubt, but still see a resemblance between the past (a theory) and the present (a fact). May be past has left its mark on the present and certain incidents have taken the name of rituals.



The groom or “dulha” comes on a horse, with a sword on his waist, though it’s not put into use (thankfully) and is just a tradition. He comes in a “baraat”, with his family and relatives. The women (girl’s side) welcomes them at the door and jokingly tease him, the groom, and sing songs with abuse, “gaaliya dena”. The girl’s friends and sisters tease him, fool around and have fun. Also, they hide the shoes of the groom, so that he doesn’t run away.


Though, now the chains and handcuffs are replaced with jewellerys , necklace, bangles, anklets, nose-rings etc. She is taken away, in a car or so with the groom and along with Dowry.., leaving the girl’s family crying.

Blog will be continued…