Marriage and family - sociology?

Question

So i just read a part in my sociology book about marriage. I'm just baffled by this... its not homework, i would just like to understand this!

It says:

....."the Nayar of Malabar never allow a bride and groom to have s*x. After a 3 day celebration of the marriage, they send the groom packing - and never allow him to see the brind again. (In case your wondering the groom comes another tribe. Nayar women are allowed to have s*x, but only with approved lovers - who can never be the husband. This system keeps family property intact - along matrilineal lines.)"

Ok, so then whats the point of a marriage in the first place?? It's "mind bottling" :)

Answer 1

Though i cannot be sure, i would imagine some of these marriages in the context probably helped to reduce some group conflict, ease tensions, and provide an escape for each participant from some social expectation. For some reason this seems like it might be a selective practice, meaning not everyone in the tribes get married in this fashion.

Its a rather interesting way of doing things though.

Answer 2

I think it might have symbolic or religious reasons - maybe the person's body they are spiritually tied and married to shouldn't be defiled with s*x, and they believe marriage should only be spiritual and not physical in any way. Maybe it's very superstitious - marriage might relieve a social problem. It could be tradition, it's just the way they've done if for centuries, and the excuses could be wide and varied, from "This god tells me to" to strange explanations about souls and bodies. Who really knows? It might help to study their culture further and see what their religious beliefs are.