Written By Millionaire’s Digest Team Member: Ann Hall
Founder & Owner of: A Coffee with Friends
Millionaire’s Digest Team, Contributor, Family & Life and Travel Writer
Valentines Day, dating, rooming in, trying things out, and moving out on your own as a couple may seem like normal transitions to some but did you know that 90%of marriages in India and 60% of the population of the world practice arranged marriages?
With that being said, I know many families who had arranged marriages and several friends who anticipate the day their marriage will be arranged by their parents. As always, different perspectives such as these can help open our minds to another way and help increase our understanding of love. An interesting quote I’ve heard several times from these friends is:
You fall in love first then marry, we marry and then fall in love.
Many advocates for arranged marriage say:
Westerners shop for spouses like they do clothes.
Once they tire of them, they toss them away.
These quotes may be offensive to you but take in what’s being said, true love is defined as commitment, acceptance, even sight unseen in many cases going deeper than attraction.
I recently met a hill tribe family who practices arranged marriages and explained this 2000-year-old tradition. From early childhood, the kids “play wedding” in the school yard with eager anticipation for the day their parents introduce them to their life mate. A friend from this hill tribe describes her marriage as “very difficult” the first 2 years but says they are learning to love each other and it is getting better. So what can we learn from this Eastern tradition? Here are some take aways.
- Love includes life long commitment above the attraction.
- Love is a choice even more than a feeling.
- Finding a life long mate is a decision involving all family members in harmony and with the expectation that family will be an integral part of the couple’s lives.
- Our upbringing and family help define what we consider to be love.
- The idea of “finding the perfect soul mate” is more of a western pursuit that may or may not is motivated by a pure heart or result in true love. Hmmm?!
Whatever the case may be, may your valentine be your mate that you have committed to love for life in good or bad or rich or poor! Please share your thoughts and opinions here!
Article Credits: Ann Hall
Millionaire’s Digest Team, Contributor
(For Family & Life, Health & Fitness, Travel Bloggers & More)
Good one however I am afraid that 90% has probably come down to 75 % or so.. Without going into numbers and the discussion about which even is better out of Arranged & Love marriage ( an evergreen hot topic of discussion here in India , where the aged vouch for former while the youth turn advocate for the latter) , I think a relation where love between both the individuals is backed by due respect and space to each other gonna be successful for sure !
Besides , arranged or Love , a marriage in India is something everyone must witness at least once- a wonderful aura owing to unlimited warmth between family members, unending smiles on everyone’s face , food & delicacies to die for , the whole pomp & show with love in abundance , ah ! I want to get married gain : ) ..hey wait ,to my wife only I mean !! 🙂
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Thank you for the insider view! I’m now dying to be a part of an wedding in India now (as a guest of course!🙂).
I love the harmony and community of arranged marriages when done right! A beautiful ancient agreement blessing everybody involved! Thank you again.
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You are most welcome..Do lets us know whenever u visit India, we – as in my whole family – will be happy to welcome u and we will make sure that you get to attend ( which can’t be guaranteed though 😋) or atleast know traditional Indian arranged marriage,full of designer wears and laughter, in full detail.😊
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Sounds delightful!
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