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Indian Culture

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ndian cultureIndian Culture focusing on Hinduism
Marriages are religiously, economically, politically, and socially oriented and they are usually arranged by the elders and extended family members. Many of the youth in India prefer arranged marriages, as it gives them the time and the ability to enjoy their youth without the constant worry of relationships and finding a mate. Many Indians look at marrying a person they don’t know, “a lifetime to learn to love them”, as to the American idea of learning a person inside and out before marriage. It can be said that an arranged marriage in India is not based on feelings, but rather on commitment. In American everyone makes their own decision on who they would like to marry, they marry for who they love.
Wedding ceremonies can be expensive, and costs are typically paid by the parents of the female. It is not uncommon for middle-or upper-class weddings to have a guest list of over 500 people. Often, a live instrumental band is played. Vedic rituals are performed and then the family and friends bless the couple. Food is served to the entire guest list. The wedding celebrations can take up to one week depending on the practice in that different part of India. The woman takes the man’s name as their own. In American weddings can be cheap and can just go to the courthouse if money is tight. Most of the time a woman takes the man’s last name, but can keep her own if she wants.
The married Hindu women in different parts of India follow different customs. Mostly Sindoor, Mangalsutra and Bangles are considered as signs of a married woman. In some places, in especially Eastern India, instead of Mangalsutra they put only vermilion on the hair parting, wear a pair of conch bangles (shankha), red bangles (pala) and an iron bangle on the left hand (loha) while their husband is alive. In South India, a married woman is required to

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