Marriage is indeed the holy union. In India, it is not just the union of two people but is regarded as the union of two souls. Marriage is one of the most ancient, important, universal and indispensable social institution which has been in existence since the inception of human civilization. Indian society considers a marriage as a religious sacrament. Marriage in India therefore can be classified into 6 categories.

Arranged Marriages
Arranged Marriages are arranged by someone other than those being married. This is no doubt the most common, most preferred kind of marriage in India. This form of marriage started gaining importance more and more as child marriages started prevailing in India. The extent of this practice was so severe that the parents started deciding matches for their children while their children were just born, sometimes even before the child was born. Arranged marriages could get forced upon the bride and the groom and the choice of the married couple was not always considered.

Arranged-Love Marriages
Arranged-Love Marriages are the newest trend adopted by many Indian families. In these kinds of marriages, the parents select the partners, they take time to know each other, and only then the final decision is taken. With the passing years, India has developed the concept of arranged cum love marriage. This kind of marriage is fast gaining popularity. The very concept of love after marriage is a beautiful and soothing feeling. However, Indian society still prefers love after marriage instead of love before marriage.

Love Marriages
Since the ancient period, there is abundance of instances of Love Marriage taking place in spite of the restrictive measures taken by the ancient Indian society. However, it was looked upon a taboo to express such feelings from unmarried men and women towards each other. Nowadays it is believed that happy marriages begin when one marries the loved one. Love is a dream and marriage is a reality, and when both dream and reality gets unified, it is the best thing that can happen to an individual.

Love-Arranged Marriages
Love-Arranged Marriages carry the concept of the couples choosing themselves and the parents give decision after checking on their child’s choice. The love marriages have become much prevalent in this country, but there are still many families who believe in unity of choice. The parents are liberal enough to allow their children to choose their own life partner, but the children too keep the dignity of their parents and ask for their consent before taking the decision of marrying the person of their choice. In this kind of marriage, no mental grudge is seen on the either part of in laws, rather a lovely relation of mutual understanding is developed between the new member of the family and the elders.

Inter-Caste Marriages
Inter-Caste Marriages prevailed in India as a result of a very rigid caste system. Upper caste people would not have any marriage alliance with lower caste people. Even if there are eligible bachelors available, it was seen as a sin to think of mixing alliances from one caste to another. In fact, though now in cities there is not a very rigid caste system prevailing, it is still seen as a taboo to have married among different castes.

Court Marriages
Court Marriages are solemnized under the Special Marriage Act, 1954 and all such marriages can take place between any two Indian citizens, as well one Indian citizen with a foreigner irrespective of the variation in religion, caste or creed. Court marriage is the secular form of marriage introduced in the country. Such a marriage is solemnized before the marriage officer, registrar and sometimes deputy commissioner of the area. This right is exclusive to Sub registrar or the marriage officer, only when the already solemnized marriage under any other Act has to be registered. In this case, both or any of the parties involved in such a marriage reside permanently or for at least one month in India.