what ceremonies have to be performed for a marriage to be valid ?
[ editor’s note : NONE … for a marriage under the SMA’54] A. The ceremonies that must be performed for a mariage to be valid depend upon the rituals that are prevalent in the community of either the bride or the groom. The ‘saptapadi’ [ed.note: “seven steps”] is normally enough to solemnise a marriage and is required for all Hindus. However, if you belong to a community which recognises some other custom (eg. ‘anand karaj’ in the case of Sikhs) it is that custom which must be followed. What you must remember is that whatever custom you perform to get married must be recognised by you or your husband’s community. [ ed.note: It is incorrect in our opinion to say that ‘saptapadi’ is required for all Hindu marriages. Neither the Brahmos nor several South Indian communities require ‘saptapadi’, and in fact here binding the hands with a garland is sufficient. Another essential requirement for Hindus is of invocation of the sacred fire or ‘homam’, and in fact in earlier times it was held th
