As a girl or young woman, have you ever thought of being married off to the highest bidder by your own family? Have you ever thought of meeting a complete stranger and becoming his legally married wife a few hours later? Have you ever thought of being put on a platform and auctioned off like every other good, with members of your own family applauding every new bid? Welcome to Bulgaria! Welcome to the world of the Kalaidzhi!
Culture is part of every society, and for most Bulgarians, culture is everything, especially, among the Kalaidzhi of the South Eastern region, who have instituted a yearly bridal market, strictly for buying (sorry, marrying) wife.
At the annual festival, single women of Kalaidzhi are given out to financially buoyant men by their immediate families. Kalaidzhis are only allowed to marry from within their tribe, and the Kalaidzhi bridal market day is the only option and opportunity for most of them to ever find love or get married.
The tribe subscribes to an orthodox Christian faith that prevents them from flirting or having any pre-marital relationship, and since they cannot marry out of their tribe, the Bride Market is their only chance of ever having a life partner.
Although a lot of youths in Bulgaria have protested against this tradition, as they believe they should have the liberty of choosing their own life partners, the practice has persisted for centuries.
This bridal market takes place every year at the Bachkovo Monastery.
Teenage girls, sometimes as young as 15, are put up for marriage. Of course, love is not even primary or paramount as long as their dowries are paid.
Culture is a part of every society but the question we ask is, should all cultures be observed and adhered to? Should true love ever come at a material price? Or better still, should love be monetized?
Photo Credit: AFP PHOTO / DIMITAR DILKOFF
