In the Nepali context, society views marriage as the union of two souls, and it is believed that unions are created in heaven. Traditional marriage is still prominent in most parts of the country, while the modern marriage system is gradually gaining popularity in urban areas.
Unlike in most Western countries, marriage in Nepal is a family matter. Most marriages in Nepal are arranged since parents are responsible for choosing a suitable spouse for their children. Every community has its own distinct culture and aesthetic. Although, they are more or less similar in most Nepali societies. Understandably, the to-be-weds and their families have never met.
It is critical to distinguish between arranged and forced marriages in Nepal. It is not common in Nepal for families planning marriages to force their children to marry someone they do not want to marry. The children are also consulted, and their approval of the marriage is crucial.
The boy and the girl choose their companion in love marriage. Both types of marriage exist today in Nepalese society, but arranged marriage is the most common.
As word of the quest for a suitable spouse spreads, other parties begin to make offers. The groom/spouse is then chosen based on caste, class, and educational background. Their character is also investigated, and if they meet all of these requirements, the marriage date is set with the consent of the intended spouses. The Lahmi (middle person) usually brings the proposal, and if all goes well, they are rewarded for presenting the best proposal.
It is also believed that matching the horoscopes of the boy and girl is vital for a good marriage. They are compared, and a date for the wedding is set. A short or grandiose engagement ceremony (depending on the financial condition of the bride's family) is usually held before the actual wedding. The ring is presented to the groom by a male member of the bride's party and vice versa. The bride's party also gives gifts to the groom's side.
The bride's party arrives at the wedding venue (if it is different from the bride's home) earlier than the groom's party (Janti) on the wedding day to greet them. The groom sits in his car, waiting for his in-laws to arrive and invite him inside. Some Janti members travel first, bringing multiple trays (Saipato), one with a letter of invitation for the wedding from the groom, and others containing fruit, dry fruits, garments, and pieces of jewellery, among other things, which are later returned to the bride.
The bride and groom then exchange their garlands and rings at the Swayambar. They are then escorted to the Jaggey (a sitting area with flowers and a fire in the centre), where the marriage ceremonies are performed. The parents perform the Kanyadaan (handing over the daughter to the groom), and the groom declares the bride to be his wife by placing Sindur and Potey (vermillion powder and bead necklace) on her. Feasts and gifts are followed by the bride's bidai (leave), which brings the wedding ritual to a close.
In Nepal, the formal and informal marriage norms differ substantially across regions, ethnic groups, and castes.
Cross-cousin marriage, for example, is permitted among the Gurungs, but it is prohibited by Hinduism for many Brahmins. People frequently seek potential spouses within their social group, caste, or ethnicity.
The age of marriage (or the age of marriage) is the age at which a person is legally allowed to marry, either as a right or subject to parental or judicial sanction. Age and other requirements for marriage differ from one jurisdiction to the next, although in the vast majority of jurisdictions, marriage as a right begins at the age of majority.
Most jurisdictions, however, allow marriage at a younger age with parental or court consent, and some even allow younger persons to marry if the woman is pregnant. Women's marriageable age was previously lower than men's in many countries, but it has since increased to men's in many.
According to the Registration of Marriages Act, the declared legal minimum age for marriage in Nepal is 20 years for both girls and boys. They can marry at the age of 18 if their parents agree.
For the to-be spouses, the ritual is extremely important.
The bride wears the traditional red wedding gown. When it's time to depart, she frequently tears up. This could be a genuine apprehension about leaving home and family, or it could simply be a tradition.
