Learn about India's arranged marriages

Overview: Have students learn about different marriage customs and ceremonies, including India's arranged marriages. Then challenge students to explore the components of a successful marriage and consider how they would orchestrate their own marriage ceremony.

Curriculum Connections: Life Skills, Sociology

Have students read the story and watch the video, "Attend an arranged marriage in India," to answer the following questions:

1. What type of marriage did CNN's Indra Sibal attend? Where was the wedding held? Who usually arranges the marriages? What were some of the rituals associated with the wedding ceremony?

2. What percentage of India's married couples is matched by their families? What factors do Indian parents consider when arranging a marriage for their children? What are the differences between an arranged marriage and a "love marriage"? According to the video, why is the rate of divorce in India less than in the U.S.?

3. Point out to students that, at the end of the video, CNN's Indra Sibal states that: "No matter how two people meet or where they live, making any marriage work takes much dedication and hard work." Then, ask students: What does Sibal mean? In what way is marriage a commitment? What do you think are the components of a good marriage? Why does it take "hard work" to make a marriage work?

4. "In one form or another marriage has existed almost as long as civilization itself." Refer groups of students to Internet resources, including the Web sites below, to prepare reports about marriages in different cultures. Each group should identify the customs and rituals of a marriage ceremony, and how these customs and rituals reflect societal laws, rules, customs, beliefs, and attitudes about the rights and duties of the man and woman. Following the presentations, instruct students to design their own marriage ceremonies. Challenge students to select or create rituals that reflect their individual beliefs. Have students share their ideas and discuss the symbolic significance of their ceremonies.

5. Note: There may be students in your class whose families conform to the practice of arranged marriages, and that these students may, to a greater or lesser degree, feel uncomfortable with a public discussion or debate about the topic. Modify the treatment of the topic accordingly.

Have students discuss the following question: How would you react, and what would you do if your parents/guardians informed you that they were going to arrange a marriage for you? Direct pairs of students to research and read/view films and works of literature in which arranged marriages are depicted and/or figure significantly in the plot, such as "Romeo and Juliet" and "Monsoon Wedding." Have each pair analyze the reasons for the success/failure of the arranged marriage and present the analysis to the class. After discussing students' presentations, assign students to write essays in response to the following question: Do you think arranged marriages are more or less successful than so-called "love" marriages?

Materials on this site are reproducible for classroom use.