Dowry: Traditional Chinese Wedding Rituals
Posted by Sarah on 08 Aug 2008 | Tagged as: Traditions |
Dowry is a big issue in many countries, especially Asian countries. In India, people avoid having girls because it means the families would have to start saving for their marriage at a young age. Some gifts include TV sets, cars, cows and other things, depending on which part they come from. In Chinese tradition, the items are more symbolic, and the amount of money depends on the families.
Dowry is given by the bride’s parents to their daughter and future son-in-law. This is done on the same day as Guo Da Li or Betrothal. The gifts are to give blessings to the couple and to demonstrate that the bride is prepared to become a wife and a mother.
My mother still keeps all the items. She refuses to throw away this orange baby bathtub. I remember some photos of me splashing happily in the bathtub. This is probably to encourage the couple to have children. At the same time, a potty and a basin are required items.
Apart from child-bearing gifts, other gifts such as a sewing kit, tea sets, bowl set, lamps and towels are given. These items are there mainly to symbolise how capable the bride will be when she becomes a wife. The lamps are to show the couple they will have a bright future ahead, and the crockery items are to show they will have more than sufficient food to eat, signifying wealth.
I’ve heard of mothers giving S$1888 or more. I’m not sure what the market rate is, though this is more dependent on the families. After all, a dowry is just an auspicious gift from the family to the couple. It is really important to have a happy wedding, than one where people are unhappy over money.
Source: The Sunday Times 27 July 2008
Seminar arranged by Rainbow against Dowry
“Dowry is a social malady that degenerates the self-dependent mentality of the men. Apart from that, the custom hinders a good relationship between the provider and receiver of dowry, and as a result, creates problems between families and within the society. Each year this custom costs a large number of women their life while it causes many other women to live a degraded life”- this was the speech from chief guest Mr. R Jamir, Director of MATADOR, at the seminar arranged by Rainbow Nari O Shishu Kalyan Foundation against the dowry custom. Mr. Md. Sohel Alam, the representative from the Qatar Charity Found, Rashal Md. Iqbal Khan the Representative from the PKSF were also present at the seminar as the special guest. Director of Rainbow Md. Altaf Hossain Mahabul read the main article at the seminar. Amongst others who presented their speeches on the occasion were social workers like Mr. Mahbub Alam, Md. Mizanur Rahaman Scientific Officer of PPRC, Mohammad Khairul Alam Executive Director of Rainbow Nari O Shishu Kallyan Foundation and Kazi Nafiza Shultana Chairman of Rainbow. People from different levels of the community participated in the seminar from the areas of Lalbagh, Hajaribagh and Kamrangirchar.