The Gujarat High Court has ruled that a Hindu marriage requires the performance of essential rites and rituals, not just registration. A division bench declared a marriage null and void, emphasizing that a certificate alone is insufficient if ceremonies like Saptapadi were not conducted. The court cited Hindu law and the Rig Veda to underscore the significance of these traditional practices for a valid union.

The court said in its order that the performance of essential ceremonies, such as saptapadi, is the foundation of a Hindu marriage. | India News

According to the court record, the appellant said he learnt of the alleged marriage only when the respondent approached his parents with a marriage certificate claiming to be his…