A dowry is the money, goods, or estate that a woman brings to her husband in marriage.

Originally, the purpose of a dowry was to provide "seed money" or property for the establishment of a new household, to help a husband feed and protect his family, and to give the wife and children some support.

But now dowry in the upper classes is given away to the bride to wish her luck and help her settle into her new home using goods of utility, luxury. Electronic items like refrigerators, television and washing machines are given by the bride's parents as part of a ceremony along with clothes, jewellery, shoes and accessories.

Dowry is seen as a crime in India but still many people still give the groom’s family some of it so that their daughters are not harassed after the marriage.

Bride-burning is a form of domestic violence, a category of dowry death, bride-burning occurs when a young woman is murdered by her husband or his family for her family's refusal to pay additional dowry.

Considering the evils of the dowry system, the dowry prohibition act was passed in 1961.

According to the act if a person gives or takes dowry or directly or indirectly demands for dowry after the marriage from his wife or her parents then the person is liable to get punished and imprisoned for six months and also pay a fine of Rs.5000,

but which may extend to two years and with fine which may extend to ten thousand rupees

- August 27, Noida : After an unsuccessful attempt at

setting her ablaze, a four-month-pregnant woman was stabbed by her husband on Thursday at village Wazidpur. Luckily, the woman survived the stabbing, just as she had the burning attempt. The victim, Neeraj Devi of 23 yrs, suffered deep stab wounds at three spots on her body.

- November 3, Mumbai : The police have arrested the husband and in-

laws of the 23-year-old girl, who was allegedly set ablaze on Sunday. The brides husband, in-laws and sister in-law allegedly set the victim, Meena Surve, on fire after she failed to get Rs 1 lakh dowry from her father, the Mankhurd police said.

Just because the brides are unable to pay the amount asked by the groom’s family, they are harassed afterwards and often killed or burnt only because they treasure money more than the bride…