Get Inspired, Be Empowered › Forums › Sexism & Patriarchy › Why are brides ‘given away’ at weddings? › Reply To: Why are brides ‘given away’ at weddings?
In Indian weddings, there is a special ritual for giving away the bride called’ Bidai’ this ritual is very emotional for every Indian bride because they are leaving their own house and name identity and going in a new family, some people also change the name of bride in name of religious beliefs. Girls from childhood always hear that they are property of another house (parayadhan), the girl has to hear from everyone that one day she will have to leave her maternal home go to another house. Also, some of the groom’s family demands dowry while giving away the daughter. Men don’t have to go anywhere not they are a lineage of the family, that’s why in traditional Indian society people give more importance to males than females, this also reason that the education ratio female is less than males. The giving away of the bride this ritual is practiced all over the world, girls are okay with it because they have seen it happen with almost every woman, I think if they’re leaving their maternal and going to his husband’s house she deserves to be respected, loved and treated with care, not as a commodity. Nowadays many females do not change their surname but add their husband’s surname after their surname. Even now many women go to stay at mom’s house for the time they want to stay, earlier many women were not allowed to go without their husband and his family’s permission. Day of marriage is the happiest day of girls life, performing customs of kanyadaan and Bidai, should be the girl choice if she wants to perform or not. Also, T V. Drama needs to stop showing this culture and Bollywood needs to stop making emotional songs on this custom. people don’t need to blindly folded follow all the religious rituals and customs every time. Society will change when we will start to bring the change