The institution of marriages or Vivah, has survived centuries of human evolution. Societies evolved from the times of Lord Ram’s Ayodhya to the modern-day cities of Paris and New York, accompanied by tremendous advances in technology. From the dirt laden roads to highways, bullock carts to the airplanes and the advent of typewriter, to mail and then to the internet – communication and dissemination of information within societies has continued to change.

This evolution has certainly changed how humans interact, however, for all its modernity, the very soul of human relationships has remained unchanged. Human soul still yearns for company, its ever-wanting desire and the need to be social. But in the modern world, does the need for companionship conclude in the consummation of marriage? The answer to that question has dramatically changed over the course of the last few hundred years, as the means of communication and the alternatives for human expression, both physical and emotional, have expanded.  

As India grips with this new normal of balancing the ancient wisdom and ways to live with the modern world of the internet, the younger generation, in many ways, is trying to break away from the traditional, to what they view as the modern. As the younger generation tries to explore and answer the question around modern day relationships and their structure – family upbringing, culture and education play an extremely important role in shaping their views.

So the question remains, both for the young and the wise – Do living in relationships make sense? Are they right?

We at Kedar believe that no one should be judged on how they choose to live their life. However, as the farmer needs the bullocks to be tied with a wooden shaft to plough the field in order to  get the optimal crop yield, marriage in many ways is similar. Crops are the children, the fertile land is like life, the couple are like those bullocks and the shaft symbolizes the strength, trust and  stability of the relationship between the two which produces the highest quality crop - meaning a happy and meaningful life with an ever-intelligent next generation.

As the younger generation contemplates the relationships they want to have, and strive to find the balance between the traditional weddings and the modern-day quest to find a companion, they need to answer this one question – Would a live-in-relationship give the couple enough stability, trust and strength in their bonds in order to live a successful and happy life? Or will this idea of freedom, right or wrong, will send young couples on an unending quest to find the right balance?

We at Kedar have a single mission within the larger global Marathi matrimony community - to facilitate via Kedar’s platform, the meeting of qualified and educated individuals. As to what kind of relationship people choose – we leave it to our members to decide.