Zed asks India’s affluent not to ‘pollute’ ancient wedding traditions

NEVADA - Acclaimed Hindu statesman Rajan Zed has asked the upper-middle class of India to keep the marriage traditions intact and not to copycat the West.

Zed, who is president of Universal Society of Hinduism, in a statement in Nevada (USA) today, said that it was sad to witness that Western showmanship was fast replacing the traditional symbols in Indian affluent urban weddings which were now full of pop and hip hop, champagne, walking down the aisle, raising toasts, exchanging “I do’s”, English translation of Sanskrit shlokas, Hollywood songs marking the entry of the bride, cocktail mehndi ceremony, and kissing. arriage (vivaha) was one of the major samskaras (sacraments) of the Hindus and was said to be established by sage Svetaketu. In Hindu tradition, it was binding not only this life but in the life thereafter also, Rajan Zed pointed out quoting scriptures.

Zed further said that oldest existing scripture Rig-Veda, dated around 1,500 BCE, talked about the marriage of Surya and Soma. It described: “I take your hand for good fortune, so that with me as our husband you will attain a ripe old age.” (ANI)