Even Stars Cannot Make Marriages Here

Few days back I visited one friend of mine. There was hustle in there and to my inquisition she replied that some Pandit Ji is waited with a suitable match for her elder brother who is a clerk in some government department. So, the whole family was busy in arranging things and bringing stuffs to feed him.

After a while there I saw Pandit Ji with his casual attire. All the members of my friend's family were folding their hands before him, some touching his feet. Even the 6 month old baby was made to touch his feet.

So, straightaway after having a good welcome and nice feast he took out the girl's photograph. She was beautiful. And then a number of questions were asked to him about the girl's name, family, background, financial status, education blah blah.

As far as I have heard from people and seen in TV shows that before a Hindu marriage the role of Pandit Ji is to see how good a match is after counting the stars in their horoscopes. That how good their match is decided by the stars and other heavenly bodies.

But, to my surprise there they all were discussing that how much the father of would be bride is able to give in dowry. So, suddenly the criterion of a marriage change here failing all the notions I have heard and seen before.

I was looking at them in utter surprise. Dowry? Like really??. Okay, I accept this is not new but if it comes from an educated and well organised family, it left me in silence. And why even a family with not so good prospect demands dowry?? Why this really exists?

Few days back when I was going through a chapter ‘Marriage in Hindu Law’ I have read about “16 sanskars” essential for a Hindu marriage which included ‘Agnifera’, ‘Sindoordan' etc but it didn't mention ‘Dowry’ anywhere. I am now taking that law as impractical because what is practical these days is to feed the bridegroom's family with whatever bride's father holds. So, in my opinion dowry has become the most important sanskar of a Hindu marriage without which no marriage is possible. It is awful but I must say that “Even Stars Cannot Make Marriages Here”.