VARIOUS MARRIAGE SYSTEMS

In Ráŕh, the Shaeva marriage custom is still popular among the people of the so-called low castes. The bride and the bridegroom exchange garlands, the bridegroom offers some unhusked rice (paddy) to the bride. The rice-offering indicates, “I take responsibility of maintaining this girl throughout life.” He then applies some vermilion on her forehead and says, Yávajjiivanaḿ távat bhát-kápad́aḿ sváhá [“As long as I live I will provide you clothes and food”]. Thus, in a simple, unostentatious way the marriage is solemnized within a few minutes. There is no need to call in a Brahman priest. This is an example of the liberal Shaeva marriage system.