रिवाज (rivaaj)

noun A single, straightforward sense: a social custom or established practice. Often heard in the fixed phrase रिवाज के मुताबिक (rivaaj ke mutaabik, 'according to custom').
Sense 1 : custom, tradition, established practice
noun, masculine
Synonyms: परंपरा (parampraa), प्रथा (prathaa), रस्म (rasm, often specifically a ritual or ceremony), रीति (riiti, literary)
Frequency: high
Cultural Note: You will hear रिवाज (rivaaj) constantly around weddings and festivals in Delhi households -- someone explaining why a particular ritual is done a certain way will often just say यह हमारा रिवाज है (yah hamaaraa rivaaj hai, 'this is our custom'), which shuts down further debate quite effectively. It is a word borrowed from Persian, and carries a slightly more everyday, conversational feel than its more formal cousin परंपरा (parampraa).
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners sometimes use रिवाज (rivaaj) interchangeably with रस्म (rasm), but रस्म (rasm) leans toward a specific ceremonial act (like a wedding ritual), while रिवाज (rivaaj) is the broader social custom or convention behind it. 2) The common phrase is रिवाज के मुताबिक (rivaaj ke mutaabik, 'according to custom') or रिवाज के अनुसार (rivaaj ke anusaar) -- learners sometimes reach for a literal 'by rule' phrasing instead.
Sample Sentences:
यह हमारा रिवाज है। This is our custom.
(yah hamaaraa rivaaj hai।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
शादी में यह रिवाज है कि दुल्हन लाल जोड़ा पहनती है। At weddings, the custom is that the bride wears a red outfit.
(shaadii men yah rivaaj hai ki dulhan laal jodaa pahantii hai।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
हमारे घर में यह रिवाज पहले नहीं था। This custom did not exist in our house before.
(hamaare ghar men yah rivaaj pahle nahiin thaa।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
क्या तुम्हारे गाँव में भी यही रिवाज है? Is this the same custom in your village too?
(kyaa tumhaare gaanv men bhii yahii rivaaj hai?)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
अगर यह रिवाज न होता तो शादी में इतना खर्च न होता। If this custom did not exist, weddings would not cost so much.
(agar yah rivaaj n hotaa to shaadii men itnaa kharch n hotaa।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Counterfactual -- Aspect: Habitual -- Voice: Active
पुराने रिवाजों को बदलने में समय लगता है। It takes time to change old customs.
(puraane rivaajon ko badalne men samay lagtaa hai।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
दादी हमेशा कहती हैं कि रिवाज तोड़ना अच्छा नहीं होता। Grandma always says that breaking custom is not good.
(daadii hameshaa kahtii hain ki rivaaj todnaa achchhaa nahiin hotaa।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
इस इलाके में यह रिवाज सदियों से चला आ रहा है। This custom has been continuing in this area for centuries.
(is ilaake men yah rivaaj sadiyon se chalaa aa rahaa hai।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Continuous -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
शहर में रहने वाले नए रिवाज अपना रहे हैं। Those living in the city are adopting new customs.
(shahar men rahne vaale nae rivaaj apnaa rahe hain।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Continuous -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
इस समाज में यह रिवाज बहुत पहले बनाया गया था। This custom was established in this society a long time ago.
(is samaaj men yah rivaaj bahut pahle banaayaa gayaa thaa।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Passive
बेटा, यह रिवाज है, इसे मान लो। Son, this is the custom, just accept it.
(betaa, yah rivaaj hai, ise maan lo।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Imperative -- Voice: Active
Morphology
Noun
(sg.m.direct): रिवाज (rivaaj)
(sg.m.oblique): रिवाज (rivaaj)
(pl.m.direct): रिवाज (rivaaj)
(pl.m.oblique): रिवाजों (rivaajon)