What is the difference between Christian and Hindu marriages?

What is the practical difference between Christian and Hindu marriages, in India?

See these three of the most important marriage acts in India in summary form:

A) The Hindu Marriage Act: The Hindu Marriage Act applies to Hindus, Sikhs, Jains and Buddhists. If one of the parties in the marriage is a non-Hindu, he/she must convert to Hinduism before the marriage ceremony can be performed under this Act. People can register their marriage, but registration is not a legal requirement and failure to register a marriage does not affect the legality of the marriage.

B) The Christian Marriage Act: Under this Act, marriages can be performed by a minister of religion in a church or by a registrar of marriages.

(1) If a minister will perform the ceremony, one of the partners must notify the minister in writing of his/her intention. The usual notice period allows the posting of bans on three successive Sundays, but under certain circumstances the minister can shorten this period. After the ceremony the minister registers the marriage and issues a marriage certificate. (2) If a registrar will perform the marriage, he/she will first post the marriage notice in the registrar's office for one month. After the ceremony is performed in the presence of two witnesses, the registrar issues a marriage certificate.

C) The Special Marriage Act (1954): This Act covers marriages between people of different religions, but people of the same faith can also be married under this Act.

Certain papers must be filed with the marriage registrar, including affidavits (in a prescribed form) by each party that they are single, and certifications from the local police station for each party that they have been resident of that area for at least 30 days. A notice of the intended marriage is published.
Thirty days after publication of the notice, the marriage is solemnized by the marriage registrar in the presence of the bride and groom and three witnesses.

The registrar registers the marriage and issues a marriage certificate.
In New Delhi the office of the Civil Registrar, Marriage Section, is located at Tis Hazari Courts (near Kashmere Gate).

Can a third party, for instance if the girl's family is against this marriage solemnised under special marriage act since the girl who is a hindu went ahead with marriage without their consent and knowledge nullify this marriage ?

Normally not if it was legal in all other respects.

I am a Hindu and my girl friend is christian. If she converted to Hindu, can I register the marriage according to "Hindu Marriage Act" ? If so what is the procedure to get her converted to Hindu legally?

If married under The Special Marriage Act (1954), what would be the religion of the Kids.

[Rahul02]

I think it is advisable for both of you to adopt a single religion before marriage under the respective law; it night help your child to avoid legal problems. But that is just my personal opinion.

I have a personal question, I am a Hindu guy having a Christian fiancee. We are supposed to get married. I want her to keep her religion intact as I am not at all worried about what religion people belong to. The girls parents(specially Mother) is kind of religious fanatic and is very strict about her Christian identity. I am from a Hindu Brahmin family and my parents will want the Hindu marriage to be the main event, which I understand.

I have been told from my future in-laws house that it is mandatory for us to get married in Christian religious style(in Church), along with the Hindu marriage, or else this marriage will not have any validity. I am not finding any support for this statement in any marriage sites. Can anybody explain the validity of this scenario.

I will really appreciate some insight here.

Hi,

I am a Hindu and the guy is from Christian community. we both want to get married to each other and have already informed of our intention to our parents. How ever my parents were not ready to support us if we go get married but neither did they oppose us. The guy's side has been adamant, have taken this case to a local political person since the guy's uncle is into police department, and my parents made me say that i will not marry this guy. The guy has said that he would marry me only and nobody else.

Prior to all this, the guy's aunt wanted to get her daughter married to him and inspite of the guy's refusal, they potray as if they have had an engagement. there are no proofs of such.Immediately the next day of the so called engagement, the guy made it clear to everybody that he wouldn't marry his aunt's daughter and even went and tried to know that girl's view. The girl also was not ready

Now what i want to know is that, will his aunt's and uncles be able to legally file a case upon this guy?
as cheating their daughter and getting married to me

how might the things proceed? i understand that this is very complicated and people would generally suggest that i stay out of it, but i cannot live without this guy.

It is illegal to marry ones aunt's daughter or anyone related to the family as far as i know.