Section 10.2: Zoroastrian in Love with a Hindu

Section 10.2: Zoroastrian in Love with a Hindu

Aspi says:

I am a Zoroastrian and love a Hindu girl. Her family wants the wedding to happen according to Hindu rituals and that mean the 7 pheras around a fire.

I am not really bothered doing all this. However some members in my family have been telling me not to do the pheras as it would mean conversion to Hinduism and denouncing Zoroastrianism.

I don’t really follow religious practices or faith. I do however visit the fire temple when I feel like which is usually once or twice a year to attend my father’s baj or something like that.

Now my fiancée and I have decided that we will have our freedom to do whatever we choose to do and kids at this point are a no-no.

I want to know in detail what are the legal implications of going through with a traditional Hindu wedding? —Aspi

Admin says:

Why you said, “Kids at this point are a no-no”? It is possible that after a few years of marriage, you may feel like having children. Is it because of religious conflicts or just your choice?

We wish somehow you manage to keep traditions from both faiths. Take best from both faiths and leave the rest for others. Be a pluralist and tolerant of each other’s religious beliefs and teach the same to both sets of in-laws. Respect and honor both sets of parents but don’t submit to parents’ irrational request to give up the other faith.

We are not legal experts but please read Indian Marriage Laws and cross-references into it. As far as we understand, it is the first marriage that counts. For this reason, go to have a Civil marriage first. After that you could have a Hindu as well as Zoroastrian marriages (and Jain, Christian, Sikh… as many marriages you wish to have). This way, you have no choice but to be neutral and will not be questioned if you got converted from one to other and the same for her. If any Hindu priest says you must convert, find a new one!

Your parents said that being in a Hindu wedding ceremony means you converted to Hinduism. We believe a pandit sprinkling water and chanting Sanskrit slokas does not fulfill “legal” definition of conversion. For example, being in Islamic nikaah does not make one a Muslim, but before marriage the imam will ask one to take shahadah oath of conversion to Islam and that is a legal conversion. Further, going to a church every Sunday does not make one a legal Christian but one has to be baptized to be a Christian. A Hindu could be a believer in Jesus’ teachings and a Christian could love yoga and messages in Geeta. These are choices, beliefs and faiths but do not constitute a legal conversion. —Admin

Aspi says:

Thanks Admin. Really appreciate it. —Aspi