Navigating An Arranged Marriage

The thought of getting into an arranged marriage makes most people nervous. Anushree Kandalkar asks experts how to navigate through it

- Anushree Kandalkar

Renowned singer, songwriter, and activist, Yoko Ono, once said, “Marriage is a gamble, let’s be honest.” While love marriages seem to have increased in number, arranged marriages continue to find takers, and are a common approach to marriage in India. If you are looking at taking that path, here’s the low-down how to go about it .

KEEP AN OPEN MIND

It never helps to harbour notions, more so, if you are following the path of an arranged marriage. There are umpteen examples of couples who have taken the leap of faith and their first meetings have translated into wedlock. Take Ahmedabad based 25-year old stylist, Kajal Arora* for instance. Initially, she met her husband purely out of a condition that her father had put forth. “I believe the best things happen when you least expect them to, and that’s what happened with me. I glanced through this man’s profile sent to us at home, and didn’t take any interest. However, days later I had to travel for work to Mumbai and my father said that he will only let me travel if I meet him. I had no option, but to succumb.”