The Age at Marriage in India

Abstract

It is common knowledge that child marriages have long occurred on a large scale in India and one would consequently expect a very low average age at marriage particularly among the females. This is confirmed by Table 1 which shows the median age of first marriages for various countries. The prevalence of child marriages among the Hindus is perhaps due to the fact that ancient Hindu scriptures sanction them suggesting that a girl should be married before she attains puberty and certainly immediately after her first menstruation. [1] Among Other religious groups it is probably a matter of custom copied from the Hindus whose overwhelming number has influenced all the groups especially since the majority of the persons belonging to other religions in India are descendants of converts from Hinduism. [2] However it is necessary to emphasize that marriage especially among Hindus often means no more than irrevocable betrothal. In the case of child marriages the parties do not begin to cohabit immediately after the marriage ceremony. Conjugal relations are generally preceded by a second ceremony called gauna or vida. Between the time of her marriage and the gauna ceremony (which is roughly the period between puberty and the institutionalized recognition of her potential motherhood) the bride lives with her parents. If marriages are held late when both the parties are grown up as is the case with educated families the gauna ceremony is performed also at the time of the main marriage ceremony. [3] (excerpt)