gowri@petfe.UUCP (R Mahalingaiah) (10/29/85)
I am not a regular reader of the net news, so I might have missed few postings hence the views in this posting might have already been discussed. As I have read a lot about the dowry system, I wanted to add few remarks. In the region I come from (Bangalore), giving/taking dowry is considered quite obscene and I have not heard of any cases of 'dowry' marriages. On the other hand, a lot of money and effort are squandered in celebrating a grand wedding which is more of a social prestige than of any enjoyment. Traditionally, brides' parents are responsible for the wedding ( which generally goes on for two days). The bride's party is expected to feed hundereds of guests (in normal middle class family - ~1000), shower relatives with presents, and heed to every whim and fancy of the bridegroom's party. This is totally unfair and even though I am completely against dowry, it makes me feel that there is more sense in the couple's parents giving gifts to their children to help them set up a family. In todays economical and social status this seems more logical than spending so much money on the ceremony. I know few men, settled in this country, going home , getting married and complain about the way wedding was performed. It is their wedding too. So why shouldnt they share the expense and the effort if they want a grand wedding? Isnt it time to try to reduce the unwanted long ceremony to a simple, nice, pleasent ceremony? As a straters, wouldnt it be nice if at least few individuals, with minds of their own go, for simple marriages with no dowry?