Miscellaneous News

Arya Samaj marriages

August 8 , 2025 17 hrs 0 min 25 0

The Allahabad High Court last week directed the Uttar Pradesh government to investigate about unlawful Arya Samaj marriages.
The Arya Samaj was formally established by Swami Dayanand Saraswati in 1875 as a Hindu revivalist movement.
The Arya Samaj has made the attempts to convert persons from other faiths or ideologies to its version of Vedic, monotheistic Hinduism through a process it called “shuddhi” (purification).
Arya Samaj weddings are favoured by couples seeking quick marriages, especially those from different castes or faiths.
In 1937, the Arya Marriage Validation Act was passed to “remove doubts” and to recognise the validity of Arya Samaj marriages.
These weddings take place as per a specific set of Hindu rituals, but only require the bride and groom to be of marriageable age and declare themselves to be Arya Samajis — regardless of their caste or religion.
This process is faster and simpler than the Special Marriage Act, 1954, which mandates a 30-day public notice and more formal procedures.
In Uttar Pradesh, Section 6 of the UP Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Act, 2021 renders void any marriage that is preceded by an unlawful or procedurally non-compliant religious conversion.
It requires pre- and post-conversion declarations and places the burden of proof on the accused to show voluntary consent.
Arya Samaj shuddhi rituals often do not meet these legal standards, creating conflicts between Arya Samaj marriages and state laws.