This comes against the backdrop of the November 22 Patna High Court annulment of a decade-old forced marriage of an Army man, on the grounds that the ritual of saptapadi (seven steps) around a fire considered sacred, had not been performed. As per the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955, most weddings conducted under this law can be considered legal if there is a record of saptapadi being performed.
A large number of such cases go unreported for fear of violence and societal pressure. Districts like Begusarai, Lakhisarai, Munger, Khagaria, and Nawada in the State are considered hotbeds of pakadwa vivah.
Several Bollywood movies like national film award (2007) winner Antardwand, comedies Jabaria Jodi, Atrangi Re, many television series like Sab ki Jodi Wohi Banata Bhagyavidhataa, and dramas like Ghar ek Sapna, Do Qadam Door are based on groom kidnapping and marriage.
We have migrated to a new commenting platform. If you are already a registered user of The Hindu and logged in, you may continue to engage with our articles. If you do not have an account please register and login to post comments. Users can access their older comments by logging into their accounts on Vuukle.
The 23-year-old is the latest victim of what is described as pakadwa vivah, an illegal practice prevalent in several parts of Bihar, where young and employed men are abducted and forced to marry women whose families cannot afford dowry.
b37509886e