After khaps, it is the Arya Samaj that has shocked couples in Haryana. A section of the sect has decided to ban marriages without consent of parents and villagers, reports Times of India .
Till now, Arya Samaj temples were a favourite of couples who eloped and solemnised marriages without the consent of their parents and the community.
Now, the Haryana Arya Samaj Pratinidhi Sabha led by Acharya Baldev has decided to impose complete ban on marriages solemnised without consent of parents in the Sabha's temples.
"We cannot allow marriages within the same gotra and same village. We will also not approve marriages which violate the established norms of society," said Baldev on Monday.
In Haryana, there are restrictions on marriages related to bhaichara (brotherhood) among villages and gotras. "We do not oppose inter-caste marriages but in future these couples would also have to be accompanied by parents and prominent persons to solemnize their weddings in our temples. Love marriages are harmful as in such weddings youngsters just see the beauty and not the nature and qualities which should be the basis of marriages," said Baldev.
However, the Samaj is divided over the issue. Another section is of the view that such marriages should be allowed.
