<P> In Indian subcontinent, from 1st century B.C. societies advocated the use of the veil for married Hindu women which came to be known as Ghoonghat . Buddhists attempted to counter this growing practice around 3rd century CE . Rational opposition against veiling and seclusion from spirited ladies resulted in system not becoming popular for several centuries . Under the Medieval Islamic Mughal Empire, various aspects of veiling and seclusion of women was adopted, such as the concept of Purdah and Zenana, partly as an additional protection for women . Purdah became common in the 15th and 16th century, as both Vidyāpati and Chaitanya mention it . Sikhism was highly critical of all forms of strict veiling, Guru Amar Das condemned it and rejected seclusion and veiling of women, which saw decline of veiling among some classes during late medieval period . </P> <P> In the 19th century, wedding veils came to symbolize the woman's virginity and modesty . The tradition of a veiled bride's face continues even today wherein, a virgin bride, especially in Christian or Jewish culture, enters the marriage ritual with a veiled face and head, and remains fully veiled, both head and face, until the ceremony concludes . After the full conclusion of the wedding ceremony, either the bride's father lifts the veil giving the bride to the groom who then kisses her, or the new groom lifts her face veil in order to kiss her, which symbolizes the groom's right to enter into conjugal relations with his bride . </P> <P> In Judaism, the tradition of wearing a veil dates back to biblical times . According to the Torah in Genesis 24: 65, Isaac is brought Rebekah to marry by his father Abraham's servant . It is important to note that Rebekah did not veil herself when traveling with her lady attendants and Abraham's servant and his men to meet Isaac, but she only did so when Isaac was approaching . Just before the wedding ceremony the badeken or bedeken is held . The groom places the veil over the bride's face, and either he or the officiating Rabbi gives her a blessing . The veil stays on her face until just before the end of the wedding ceremony--when they are legally married according to Jewish law--then the groom helps lift the veil from off her face . </P> <P> The most often cited interpretation for the badeken is that, according to Genesis 29, when Jacob went to marry Rachel, his father in law Laban tricked him into marrying Leah, Rachel's older and homlier sister . Many say that the veiling ceremony takes place to make sure that the groom is marrying the right bride . Some say that as the groom places the veil over his bride, he makes an implicit promise to clothe and protect her . Finally, by covering her face, the groom recognizes that he his marrying the bride for her inner beauty; while looks will fade with time, his love will be everlasting . In some ultra-orthodox traditions the bride wears an opaque veil as she is escorted down the aisle to meet her groom . This shows her complete willingness to enter into the marriage and her absolute trust that she is marrying the right man . In Judaism, a wedding is not considered valid unless the bride willingly consents to it . </P>

Where did the tradition of wedding veils come from
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