Breaking Tradition: Groom in Haryana Returns ₹11 Lakh Dowry, Calls Bride the True Gift

Jind (The Uttam Hindu): In a heartening display of values over tradition, a wedding in Jind, Haryana, stood out not for its lavishness, but for a powerful stand against dowry. During the ceremony, the groom, Jyotish Kaushik, son of astrologer Purushottam Kaushik, returned ₹11 lakh in dowry to the bride’s family, stating that the bride herself was the most precious gift they could ever receive.

Though the groom's family had clearly refused dowry during the engagement, the bride’s family—hailing from Sandala Kalan village in Sonipat—had still arranged a dowry of ₹11 lakh along with furniture and other household items. However, at the wedding, when the bride's father placed the money before the groom's family, they respectfully touched it to their foreheads before returning it to the bride’s uncle. They accepted only a symbolic Re 1 and a coconut as a token gesture of goodwill.

Purushottam Kaushik, the groom's father, reiterated their opposition to dowry, saying that once a family gives their daughter, it’s as if they’ve given everything. The bride, Tanu, is currently pursuing her studies, while the groom has completed a Bachelor of Arts degree. Neither is employed at present.

This gesture not only challenged a deep-rooted social custom but also served as an inspiring example of integrity and progressiveness within traditional settings.