Synopsis Marriage stands at the centre-point of one’s life-cycle and epitomizes the relationship between two individuals or groups. It denotes, generally, long-term bonds and commitments, in which a relationship with the Divine, for instance, a relationship between villages and their local village Goddesses, is implicitly included. This book is a study of marriage in India. It begins by presenting the concept of marriage in a wide Indian framework. The book discusses the kinship classifications and rules and the different kinship systems in North and South India (the Indo-Aryan and Dravidian systems). The relationship between marriage, on the one hand, and caste, status, hierarchy and gifts on the other, is elucidated. This lays the foundation for the later description of the local ceremonies and rituals.