A Hindu marriage cannot be recognized unless it involves a valid ceremony, including the ritual of ‘saptapadi’, the Supreme Court ruled on Wednesday. The court emphasized that marriage is not a mere social event or commercial transaction but a sacred institution with deep significance in Indian society. The ruling came in response to a plea by a woman seeking the transfer of a divorce petition from Bihar to Ranchi. The court found that the couple’s decision to settle their disagreement without a valid marriage ceremony was not in accordance with the Hindu Marriage Act.