Marriage, in the Indian tradition, is often seen as a sacrament (Sanskara) — a sacred, lifelong bond marked by religious rites and duties, not just a legal or social contract. However, the institution of marriage is undergoing rapid transformation in modern India due to social, economic, and legal changes.

Arguments Suggesting Marriage as a Sacrament is Losing Its Traditional Value

1. Rise in Divorce Rates

   • Although still low (~1.1% per Census 2011), divorce rates are rising, especially in urban India (e.g., Delhi, Mumbai).
   • This challenges the idea of permanency and sanctity associated with marriage.

2. Increase in Live-in Relationships

   • Recognized under Article 21 (Right to Life) and upheld in SC judgments (e.g., Indra Sarma v. V.K.V. Sarma, 2013), such arrangements bypass sacramental rites.
   • Reflects a shift toward individual autonomy over traditional norms.

3. Changing Attitudes Towards Arranged Marriage

   • Greater preference for love marriages and inter-caste, inter-religious unions (e.g., per Pew Survey 2021, urban youth are increasingly open to such marriages).
   • Reduces the community’s role, often central to sacramental rituals.

4. Delayed Marriages or Opting Out of Marriage

   • Increasing number of career-oriented individuals, especially women, choosing late or no marriage.
   • National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5): Median age of marriage for women rose to 22.1 years (up from 19.3 in 2005-06).

5. Legal Over Religious Sanction

   • The Special Marriage Act, 1954 allows interfaith couples to marry without religious rites.
   • Shows a growing trend of treating marriage as a civil contract.

Counter-Arguments: Persistence of Marriage as a Sacrament

1. Dominance of Religious Ceremonies

   • 90%+ marriages still occur via religious customs — Hindu, Muslim, Christian rites.
   • Religious rituals like Saptapadi or Nikah remain deeply embedded.

2. Social Pressures and Family Values

   • In rural India, and among older generations, marriage continues to be viewed as a sacred duty.
   • Sanskara status of marriage is emphasized through community expectations.

3. Continuity of Patriarchal and Kinship Norms

   • Women’s roles often still tied to marriage and motherhood, reflecting traditional views.
   • Caste endogamy and dowry practices, though illegal, remain widespread, underscoring the cultural hold of marriage.

4. Symbolic Importance in Festivals and Cinema

   • Marriage is still glorified in Bollywood, literature, and festivals like Karwa Chauth or Teej.

While urbanization, legal reforms, and modernization are reshaping the institution of marriage, it would be premature to say that its value as a sacrament has been lost entirely. The ritualistic and spiritual dimensions still command deep respect across India, especially in traditional communities.