are declared legal by the Madras High court, and Tamil Nadu became the only place where these marriages are at their peak in practice.
Introduction
The Suyamaiyathai Marriages are also known as the Self-respect Marriages because here the word ‘Suyamarithai means the self-respect of the feminine culture of the society.
The Marriages which are in the current culture of Tamil Nadu are Suyamarithai marriages. In these marriages, there is
no requirement of any
Brahmin priest to conduct the ceremony of Marriage. And this ritual of Marriage is can be done without having the Sound, Lights, Crackers, and other many useless things. It just needs a Mangalsutra, fire, the Bride, a Groom, and some of the family members, and the marriage is done.
Courts view in Suyamarithai Marriages
The Madras High Court
ruled the decision in the favor of the marriage system. This was in practice when it was officially announced in the
gazette on 20 January 1968. And it was signed by the
President of India on 17 January 1968.
The then chief minister of Tamil Nadu, C N Annadurai
in 1967 faced the apex situation of the Dravidian Movement, which was founded by
EVR Periyar in 1925, and after becoming the Chief Minister the first file signed by him was subjected to legalize self-respect marriages which then became an act in 1968.
This ritual of marriage demanded to avoid the Saptapadi system of ritual in which the Seven steps, Mangalsutra, the holy fire, the Brahmin Priest, and the family members are required to validate the marriage system.
Presenting the case the Advocate A. Asuvathanam said that Saptapardi was an important ritual and he said further that the amendment had attempted to bring the Philosophy of the political movement.
The bench of Chief justice dismissed the petition and replied that
in Ancient India, there were, many types of marriages that were functioning according to their mores and culture. Hence the Suyamarithai Marriages are valid and legal in the respective state.
