- Recent Supreme Court judgment in Dolly Rani v Manish Kumar Chanchal case mentioned that if no saptapadi ceremony is performed, a Hindu marriage between two people cannot be considered valid.
- Section 7(1) of the Hindu Marriage Act says that a Hindu marriage be solemnised in accordance with the customary rites and ceremonies of either party.
- Saptapadi is a custom among certain sections of Hindus; it is not universally practised among all denominations.
- The Section 7(2) of the Act says that ‘Where such rites and ceremonies include the Saptapadi, the marriage becomes complete and binding when the seventh step is taken.’
- The Hindu Marriage Act cannot solemnise a marriage through registration alone. Registration is now mandatory in many States, and it is done after a ceremony of marriage is conducted.
- Tamil Nadu passed an amendment in 1967 simplifying marriage ceremonies. This was the Suyamariyathai, or “self-respect” marriage, which is a Hindu marriage that does not require a Brahmin priest, holy fire, or saptapadi.
- In a Suyamariyathai marriage, the couple can declare their marriage in the presence of friends, relatives, or other people. However, such marriages must still be registered in accordance with the law to be valid and legally binding.
| Saptapadi: Saptapadi is a Hindu wedding ceremony where the bride and groom walk seven steps in a clockwise direction around a sacred fire (Agni) near the Mandap. Each step, called a Phere, represents one of the seven promises the couple makes to each other during the exchange of vows. |
Dig Deeper: Read about Hindu Marriage Act and Special Marriage Act
