Not even kissing is allowed before marriage!

I ca'nt imagine not having the choice of who you marry. And to not see them until that time! I can only imagine who my parents would set me up with. Actually I don't even want to think about that. Yes it is very strange.

Yes i agree that these type of rituals were there here in india earlier but things have changed a lot now. There are no such restrictions although we are still the ones who dont normally kiss in public or infront of our elders. People here are free to move out freely with their would to be partners.Rather parents are too keen to get their kids married early once engaged as they meet too frequently and are just engrossed with each other.

I couldn't imagine it being that way - I think it would be awful, but it is customary in some places & I guess normal to those people.

WEll Some parts of India still believe in it ,And most of the time marriage are fixed without seeing each other ,strange but true only after the engagement they see each other and know each other.I feel awkward and strange when i see this happening for how can we possibly live with someone we don't even know .I does happen here in some illiterates states of India. DOwry ,child marriage is still a common practice in India and not just the illiterates but the modern literate gentleman are in to it.

interesting considering now adays in the us people sleep with each other before they even know the other persons name!

well before commenting i wud just take u guys back in history .when religions took birth in this part of the world there were only tribes and very few of them who were in part of sindh in northern india and tribes known as dravidians in south india...and the population in either of the two was very less,and that was a period of free realtion anybody can sleep with anybody and this caused a lot of health probelms like retarded children,gene transmitted diseases etc..so few ppl decided there wud be no physical relation nor marriages in the same community as it wud lead to extinction of man kind..the same tradition has been continued with variuos editing i wud say and now in hindu religion love marriages are considered a part of that old practice(i know it doesn have logic with population incresed almost 100000000 folds)...thats the history part.. to respond to the present discussion, i feel its gud in way not have an affair before marriage as sometimes temptation may lead to much more than a kiss!!

it is still there in some countries. i guess most asian countries are conservative than the western countries. now the picture is changing,. in my country India it was the custom till sometime ago,

Are you supporting the convention or opposing it.....LOL! I think conventions are made by the society and if one has to live peacefully in a society, he/she must follow the conventions and traditions of the society. I think, kissing in private would have been allowed in certain societies, instead of doing it at a public place?

I guess today's generation, it's no longer happening. Every one is expose to media which give even young kids an idea about romance, kissing and etc. I agree before, I guess in 1920-30's, My grandpa told us that if any guys will be caught holding the hands of their GF's, they have to marry right away!

Asia is indeed home of a lot of beautiful women... and i remember how strict people were when it comes to relationships... it was even thought that holding the hand of a lady can make her pregnant... good thing that is not longer part of the beliefs...

Arranged marriages existed in many cultures (and still exist today in some places) but yeah it is strange by US standards at least.

It's true in the old times the first time for couples to see each other was on their wedding day, to be exactly, the wedding night for the bride should wear a veil to cover her face which could bring good fortune, and only her husband could take it off. In the west world, there also occurred puritan movements and principles. At that time, people also hold high strict behavior standards. Now, as to most places, the modern society is much opener.

I have heard of such things before and seen them on television as well. Was this this the same thing as an arranged marriage where the bride and groom are decided by mutual agreement between parents at an early age (childrens). I am just glad that the times have changed in this instance.

it is a sin to do so...........

Yes its true, most of the asian countries have this types of restrictions and its quite different from the western countries. Asian countries have their own beleifs and customs and this is the result of this. Sometimes these restrictions also act as a good force for them.

Hi gxnfly-I do think it strange some of the way believe and think they should dress in their own country-but that is fine with me as long aswhen they move to another country they can conform to the way whichever country they go to lives and do not dictate how they should live and demand their way of belif and dress should be the same there--as the saying goes When in Rome do As The Romans Do-Littleowl

I often think that I am lucky to be born into the world that I was born in, with no rules or beliefs that I have to stick too. I find it hard to believe that some countries have what seem to me to be hard customs with regards to relationships. I cannot imagine having to get married when I was told too and having to maybe marry someone that I had never seen in my life and then having to spend the rest of my life with them.

yes it is common in asian countries but lately because they are influence by the western countries some of them accepted and become liberated. some girls never allowed to talk to boys. i meet a missionary and become my friend but i never talk to his wife face to face.

Yeah...i Agree with that!!! nowadays to get into serious relationship like marriage is really like just a game to somebody else..kissing is just normal part of both love ones to do it in public.."eww"" it is because also of the influences made by countries which liberty is tolerated and being liberated is just normal for they also have their what we called "human rights".. i think it will just depend now in the person whether he/she will be tempted to do or be influence by others doin and trend in this modern world OR he will have a strong determination of his/her self to stick the principles and rules in the older ages before gettin into serious or certain relationship ## @jam@ ~enjoy life~ be contented***

Oh how terrible is that, I am an asian and I somehow agree with the fact that some missionaries should not be given the privilege or permission to engage on those kind of relationship. They already have made their bows and it somehow leads me to the idea that they already offered their lives to serve God. Also, I am still an adolescent and currently a student. I am just wondering when will I get the chance to experience what they say that is the most wonderful feeling here in the world. So far, I did not even tried to do that to my girlfriend because I want to do it after the day we were married and joined together by the Holy Sacrament of Matrimony. Have a great time there my dear friend and keep sharing your ideas.