Changing marriage system of Adivasi Garo Community and its impact on their socioeconomic development

The purpose of the study was to analyze the changing pattern of marriage system of Adivasi Garo community. Forthe study, Modhupur upazila of Tangail district for Plain Garos and Haluaghat upazila of Mymensingh district for HillGaros were chosen as the research areas. From these two upazila, six villages were selected randomly for collectingsample population. The sample consisted of 100, taking 50 Hilly Garo respondents from three villages of Haluaghatupazila and 50 Plain Garo respondents from three villages of Modhupur upazila. Primary data were collected from therespondents through a sample survey with the help of a interview schedule. It was found that in both upazila, theessential rules for their marriage were maintained but due to conversion of Christianity, these rules are changing. Arule followed by the respondents is highest in case of a Garo should always marry a Garo (95%). Christian marriagerituals are now increasing in both upazila. Very few traditional rituals were followed by Garos for establishing theirmarriage. Before conversion to Christian, Garos were used to the traditional forms of marriage such as ‘Marriage byCapture’ and Thunapp’ a marriage (marriage through food offering) which has stopped now but still today it has someinfluences upon their marriage system. The study also revealed that most of the Garos are interested in lovemarriage and arranged marriage. In love marriage, Garos select their life partners themselves. After marriage, todaythe male Garos are not interested in moving to his wife’s parents house; rather they are living in a independenthouse. Moreover, while the Garo society is changing from a matrilineal to patriarchal one, this change invites manychanges in their social and cultural life, such as inheritance, gender roles, post marital residence etc. The finding alsoshowed that despite many similarities, there are very few customs and ritualistic differences between two upazilas,but comparatively Hilly Garo villages culture and tradition were changing less than the plain Garo villages.