Hindus say “model” Royal wedding might bolster dwindling institution of marriage

Hindus have commended the “model” wedding planned for Prince William and Catherine Middleton of United Kingdom, saying that it might help uplift the institution of marriage which is changing in dramatic ways world over.
A recent Time/Pew poll indicated that 39 percent of Americans think that marriage is becoming obsolete; only 46 percent unmarried people want to get married; and 30-31 percent give “financial stability” as “very important” reason to get married. Only 52 percent adults are married and 41 percent kids are born to unmarried women.
Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada (USA) today, said that world and religious leaders needed to bolster the institution of marriage as it was affecting the entire social fabric.
In Hinduism, vivah (marriage) is the most important samskar (sacrament) and was said to be established by sage Svetaketu. Married couple is looked as a complete module for worship and participation in cultural/social acts. With the marriage samskar, one thoroughly enters into grihasth-ashram (householder phase), where one can attend to the goals of dharm (duty), Zed, who is President of Universal Society of Hinduism, points out quoting scriptures.
In Hindu tradition, marriage was binding not only this life but in the life thereafter also. Oldest existing scripture of mankind Rig-Veda talked about the marriage of Surya and Soma. It described: “I take your hand for good fortune, so that with me as your husband you will attain a ripe old age”, and thus provided the divine prototype for human weddings. In marriage, instead of physical union, Hinduism stressed on spiritual union, Rajan Zed added.
Zed also praised the decision of British Royal Family and Middletons for sharing the wedding cost and not putting it on taxpayer in view of tougher economic times. Wishing the couple a happy future together, he urged them to visit a Hindu temple sometime after their wedding to seek the blessings and good wishes of the Hindus of United Kingdom and the world. In view of growing diversity of United Kingdom, this would be a wonderful gesture.
Prince William, second-in-line to the British throne, and Kate Middleton, both 28, who got engaged in Kenya in October, will be married by Archbishop of Canterbury Dr. Rowland Douglas Williams on April 29 at Westminster Abbey in London. They met in September 2001 at the University of St Andrews in Scotland studying art history, and then reportedly split in April 2007 for a short period. Middleton is said to be the first commoner in 350 years to marry an heir-presumptive to throne.
--Press Release