We have opened a new section on the history, mystery, and the diversity of weddings in India.
Q: Why do Indians marry their cousins?
Weddings in India -- Customs, Traditions, & Varieties
In India, a woman after marriage is considered part of her husband's family , not her father's. By this definition, maternal cousins are not part of the same family and can marry. Indians not only can marry maternal cousins, but also can marry maternal uncles by the same justification. The concept of keeping the wealth inside the family has only added to the custom.
No, I am not married to my cousin. But one of my cousins is married to my aunt's brother, who is also my grandmother's nephew (see chart -- Fun for the Whole Family)
Please Note
- Paternal cousins do not marry in India.
- All of the marriages among cousins are actually arranged marriages -- meaning neither the bride nor the groom have been consulted.
- Contrary to the title of my comment (Fun for the Whole Family), most such marriages - especially among the educated, have resulted in deep resentment of elders after they realized their unscientifc, and unnatural (see the movie Angels and Insects ) unions.
- This practice is on the decline in India.
