Marriage

Author(s): Natubhai Shah
Publisher: UK Jain Academy

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JAIN WEDDINGS
Jain literature describes many rituals, which are essentially social in nature; the ceremony for marriage is one of them. The Jain Wedding Ritual has the influence of the predominant Hindu community in India, has regional variations, and these variations have travelled with the Jains overseas.
A. Choosing a Partner
In Indian culture, marriage is a community event as not only two individuals, but two families are united. Until, and sometimes after marriage, children generally live with their parents, and it is the parents' responsibility to introduce them (perhaps with the help of suitable intermediaries) to prospective marriage partners. It is quite misleading to refer to this as 'arranged marriage' - in practice, the couple has every opportunity over a long period to get to know each other, and the decision to marry belongs to them alone.
B. Engagement ceremony
When it is agreed that a couple are suited, an engagement ceremony is held, to which prominent members of the community are invited, there is a ritual exchange of symbolic items and gifts and the engagement is recorded in an engagement document. This ceremony takes place in the home of the groom or in a community hall, and the date of the marriage is usually discussed at this stage.
C. Pre-marriage ceremony
When the date of the wedding is agreed, after astrological consultations regarding the auspicious day and time, invitations are sent out or made in person. The number of guests invited can be very large: many relatives and many members of the community have to be included. About seven to ten days before the wedding day, the bride's family sends a delegation of close relatives to the home of the groom bearing a special invitation, written by a priest, requesting the groom's family to bring the wedding party to the marriage ceremony. The two families prepare dresses and jewellery for the bride, which she will take to her new home. The groom's family presents their gifts ritually a day or two before the ceremony, and the bride's
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