Does Skin Color Really Matter in Indian Marriages?

Hello everyone!

Hope you’re having a lovely Sunday. I have a question for you all now. Do you think skin color really matter in Indian marriages? I am receiving these kind of queries in my mail box from my readers and I am really surprised. How come a person choose their life partner with the ‘skin tone’ quality? If character or even health matters, that is completely normal; but how come the skin tone?

       Have you seen matrimonial ads on new papers and internet? Most of the families want ‘fair’ brides and grooms. Don’t you find it funny? But this is a very serious issue to be discussed. This make youngsters in India, especially girls depressed who are in marital age. Not only women, men too experience these kinda hurdles in India when it comes to arranged marriages. This ‘skin tone’ partiality happens mainly in South Indian arranged marriages. I am no elder to talk about marriages and all but ‘this’ query from one of my readers affected my mind and made me do this post. Check her query below.

Query by Richa

Hi dear,
I am born wheatish in color and it is creating problem for my wedding. No one is ready to choose me as their life partner as I am not fair. I am an all rounder and I top every where whether it is studies or extra curricular activites but my dark skin complexion is a big issue. Please help me! Can I get fair? Is their any possibility?

So what can I respond to this query? If you had asked me to lighten your complexion by your own wish, I would have considered suggesting you a few natural remedies and products.. But in this case, its a BIG No from me! I really cannot give you ideas to become pale.

I have one question for you sister. Why should you marry a guy from a family who care about your ‘skin tone’ but not your talent or nature? Doesn’t it sound odd for you? Do you think you will have a happy life with your partner if you change your born skin color? I really find this absurd.

You said that you are an all rounder; good at studies and etc but why you become so submissive when it comes to this kind of Indian traditional rules?
A person’s skin tone is decided by genes and birth. Being pale doesn’t mean that you’re a beauty queen and being dark or wheatish doesn’t mean that you are ugly. Being healthy and confident is the ‘real beauty’ in my view. Fair or dark, you are beautiful if you have a beautiful mind and healthy physique.. and not to forget a happy smiling face all the time. I have seen hundreds of dark and beautiful people including top celebrities. First understand that your skin tone is not a factor that measures your beauty. I kindly request you NOT to undergo any skin lightening treatments or something to whiten your skin for this marriage purpose. Marriage is a beautiful bond between two loving humans and their families.

Eat health foods, have fresh juices and tender coconut everyday. Have good sleep. Take care of your skin and don’t forget your sunscreen. These are enough to improve your skin texture and beauty!

Bleaching your skin can make it lighter but surely not beautiful. I won’t ask you to be satisfied with your skin tone; but be PROUD! This is your own skin tone gifted by your lovely parents. Being a south Indian, I have a dusky dark complexion and I completely love it! If I get a wish from god to change me ‘pale’ I would scream NO! Because that is not the color I love; My parents are dusky and I feel beautiful being dusky! I agree that I love my skin to be brighter, healthier and radiant but I do not long for a paler skin tone.
I hear about people getting their skin tanned to achieve that skin tone like yours. Then why should you change? If you feel that you want to shed on some pounds or gain some weight to look perfect, go to a  fitness center and find a personal trainer. Spend your days enjoying at spas and relax your mind and body. Shape your eyebrows, get a herbal facial done. Grow, shape and buff your nails.. Get a stylish hair cut done. Wear clothes in which you feel beautiful! Hang out with your friends. Be confident and happy. If you want to brighten your skin tone naturally, go through this blog for few natural home remedies to improve your skin tone. I am sure you will get an understanding life partner who will love you and accept you for whom you are; who love you for your character and talents. All the best sister! I am sure you will have a happy, joyful life.

I feel really sad when I find many other countries better in terms of marriage, when compared to our India. I agree that these practices are slowing fading away, but still it hasn’t been completely abolished. Only if you don’t support these silly cultures, our country will develop. We shouldn’t follow the wrong path knowingly as that will be a bad example for others. As much as I love Indian culture and traditions, there are few things I hate about it to core :( To abolish these kind of practices such as choosing brides seeing skin color, dowry system and etc in India, we youngsters should STOP following it! Will you?

I apologize if I have expressed something wrong in this post; I did not mean to hurt anyone.