Wedding custom in ancient India had a different scenario all together from what we see now. In the ancient India, especially in Hindu marriages, there are certain references of polygamy and polyandry for political as well as social reasons, they are considered criminal offenses today. Falling in love before marriage was thought to be a sin and a kind of insanity. Still we do find the references of amorous relationships between princes and princesses. In the medieval age, there were Swayamwaras arranged by Kings for their daughters, where women get to choose the groom of their choice and men would have to coo them with a presentation of their abilities. These means sound more modern rather than ancient.

There are also mentions of abductions of the women by men for marriage purpose in the context of ancient India marriages. In fact, that was one acceptable way of acquiring the bride of one`s choice. It was considered rather gallant of a man to display such act.

Most references to marriage in the ancient Indian texts suggest that the Aryans were monogamous. However, some references to polygamy and polyandry have been found in the Hindu epic of Mahabharata. In medieval India, the marriage was compulsory for all the girls except for those opted asceticism. Brahmin girls were married between ages eight and ten from sixth or century onwards up to the modern times. Polygamy was permitted to all who could afford, and it was especially popular among Kshatriyas for political reasons. According to the Manasollasa, the king should marry a Kshatriya girl of noble birth for a chief queen though he is permitted to have Vaishya or Shudra wives for pleasure.

However, there were exceptions in the prehistoric era where women could have their ways in regard to ruling kingdoms and acting as spiritual guides to their sons and preceding their husbands on political fronts. At the same time, ancient world had practices that set women up as trophies of war and competitions.

Weddings in Vedic period: Wedding in the Vedic period was the earliest form of marriages in India. In Vedic civilization the marriages have their written records in the Vedic texts. The Vedic Civilization had built up along the river Saraswati, in a region that now consists of the modern Indian states of Haryana and Punjab. The Vedic texts have vast dates starting from the 5th millennium BC. The use of Vedic Sanskrit continued up to the 6th century BC. Vedic is identical with Aryans and Hinduism, which is another name for religious and spiritual consideration that has evolved from the Vedas

Wedding in Indian royal households: are gaudy, extravagant with ample pomp and show. India is a land that has a rich cultural heritage. Wedding in Indian royal households are have always been gaudy, extravagant with ample pomp and show. The country is dotted with several palaces and exotic resorts specially made for the purpose of grand wedding celebrations

Wedding in the Indian society: It has varied rituals, essence and jollity that almost calls for festival time in any Indian household. Ceremonies, festivals, rituals, customs whatever we call them, they have a certain characteristic of their own in India.

More on History of Indian Wedding