Arranged marriage is a traditional way of marrying in India, where the bride and groom are matched by their parents or other family members. It is still a common practice in India, and there are many reasons why families may put pressure on their children to get married in this way.

Additional read: Reasons and advantages of arranged marriage in India 

It is true that there are several benefits to arranging a marriage But in comparison it has more drawbacks.

1. Love is frequently unimportant
Arranged marriages can have benefits, as we’ve seen before. Forced marriages, however, are associated with a number of serious issues. One drawback of arranged weddings is that love is frequently not at all a component. Although partners may get along, they may or may not ever feel anything for one another. This is rather sad because many couples marry because they are really in love, like spending time together and many other reasons, and arranged marriages completely disregard this crucial element, and even if they do, they do it for the sake of their parents, family, or society.

2. Possibility of increased divorce rates
Arranged weddings could potentially result in increased divorce rates, depending on the nation and the specific situation. Even if this is not the case, some spouses may choose to leave their union in the hopes of finding a better life abroad in order to escape their pain. Furthermore, many people may not be at all pleased with their planned marriages, but they still stay in them for the sake of their reputation and the judgments of society.

3. Couples might not trust one another
There may also be a serious lack of trust between spouses in a marriage because they don’t genuinely know one another before being married. Therefore, it may be difficult to sustain a working marriage if partners do not trust one another.

4. Individuals could be really dissatisfied
People who are forced into arranged marriages may generally be less happy than those who were free to choose their spouse because they may believe that their freedom of choice has been completely taken away from them and that they have never had any say in such a significant life decision.

5. Insufficient Dating time
Many of us also truly like going on numerous dates with different people until we find the one that matches our preferences the best. To identify who best fits us, though, we must gain dating experience. Therefore, if this experience is missing, a lot of the fun is gone from everything, and the likelihood of a mismatch increases significantly.

While arranged marriages can be successful, they can also be stressful for the couple involved. Some of the common stressors of arranged marriage in India include:

• Lack of choice: In an arranged marriage, the couple does not have the same level of choice as they would in a love marriage. In an arranged marriage, the bride and groom have little or no control over who they marry. This can be a source of stress for people who want to choose their own spouse. This can be a source of stress for both partners, as they may feel like they are not in control of their own lives.
• Pressure from family: In arranged marriages, there is often a lot of pressure from family members to make the marriage work. This can be a source of stress for the couple, as they may feel like they have to live up to other people’s expectations.
• Family differences: If the couple comes from different backgrounds, this can also be a source of stress. They may have different expectations about marriage, family, and religion.
• Communication problems: In arranged marriages, the couple may not have had much time to get to know each other before the wedding. This can lead to communication problems, as they may not be able to understand each other’s needs and expectations.
• Lack of intimacy: In arranged marriages, the couple may not have had much physical intimacy before the wedding. This can lead to a lack of intimacy in the marriage, which can be a source of stress.
• Adjustment to a new family: In an arranged marriage, the bride and groom may have to adjust to a new family after they are married. This can be a source of stress, especially if the bride and groom do not feel comfortable with their new family.
• Fear of the unknown: For some people, the idea of marrying someone they have never met can be daunting. They may worry about not being compatible with their spouse or not being able to adjust to a new life.
• Fear of rejection: If the bride or groom is not interested in the person they are being matched with, they may worry about being rejected by their family or friends. This can be a source of stress, especially if the person they are being matched with is someone who is considered to be a good match.
• Fear of failure: Some people may worry that their arranged marriage will fail. This can be a source of stress, especially if they have high expectations for their marriage.

If you are considering an arranged marriage, it is important to be aware of the potential stressors involved. It is also important to talk to your family and friends about your concerns. If you are feeling stressed about an arranged marriage, it is important to seek professional help.

– Urveez Kakalia and Sakshi Merai.