Dowry- The Story Behind This Misunderstood Practice

Wedding is the union of souls and in a Hindu Wedding the belief is that a man and woman are bound in this relationship to each other beyond their present lifetime. A very romantic idea indeed and the one that is at times mentioned in form of Sanskrit shlokas and verses in as well! There are various rituals and facets of a traditional and Vedic Hindu marriage and one we have chosen this time is – Dowry!

Dowry though illegal in India happens to be rampant in many cultures and usually frowned upon as well. However, it was started wayback by our ancestors as a form of goodwill and in good intent. Unfortunately the greed took over and spoilt the spirit of this practice in the modern times.

So, what really was the reason that dowry came into being?

In olden days, daughters were not given part of property because they would be married off and take on the name of another family. Since the customs required her to stay at her in-laws only, it anyways did not make sense to give her property that was located at her parent’s place. The solution to this issue was to give her an equivalent portion of money, jewellery and home needs as she moved to her new house. A wonderful way of giving a daughter her rightful inheritance.

However, with time dowry became something that the groom’s side would demand and bride’s side would fulfil. In some cultures there is acustom of “reverse” dowry and it is strangely referred to as the “Bride Price”! In mountains in the far north, the groom’s side would pay the Bride’s parents an agreed amount before the wedding. Again this custom has almost disappeared now.

After giving you this heart touching insight into a custom that has been turned into heinous crime, let us move on to more fun things about the wedding. We at KOC talk like none others! Our online shop lets you choose and order from the comfort of your home. If you are confused which we are sure you will be considering the huge collection of fabulous cards we have, do order for . Make up your mind, call us and place your order. As we always say “We would be Happy to oblige”!