Amit Saini, a groom in Haryana, refused to take dowry of Rs. 5.51 Lakh during his 'tilak' ceremony and took only Rs. 1 and a coconut. Read on to know more!
A few months ago in February 2025, a rare and widely praised moment took place, where a groom, Amit Saini took a bold stand during his wedding in Rohtak. As a civil services aspirant, he received Rs. 5.51 lakh in dowry during the traditional tilak ceremony but he immediately refused to accept it. His act stunned everyone present and that video sparked a lot of admiration not only across his community, but all over social media.
During the wedding rituals, Amit Saini managed to win hearts on social media by just being himself. As per custom, the bride's family had offered a ceremonial plate containing Rs. 5.51 lakh in cash during the tilak ceremony. But instead of accepting it, Amit politely returned the entire amount to the bride’s father, taking only Rs. 1 and a coconut, in order to respect the ritual and elders. This small and unplanned gesture resulted in giving out a powerful message to several people watching it on social media. People across social media platforms appreciated his thought.
The clip was applauded a lot on different social media platforms for its beautiful and courageous message. Viewers across communities agreed with Amit’s thought that educated people need to bring a change by refusing to accept dowry. Users across platforms called him as 'a real hero' and 'the kind of son-in-law every family deserves.' One user on Instagram commented, “Breaking generational burden.. He’s already a great human and son and will make an even better husband and father…”, another said, “M so proud of our generation men that are doing this !!! Real masculinity is this here…” Another user penned, “He will always hold his head high. Salute bhai.”
Following the tilak ceremony, Amit Saini, a civil services aspirant, got married to his bride, Shalu in Haryana. The wedding was according to Haryanvi traditions and their marriage was a perfect example of exchanging only heartfelt vows and no expensive gifts. It was the beginning of their lives built on respect, equality and values.
In many parts of India, the dowry system is still followed during weddings, despite dowry being illegal in India. Many families feel forced to give dowry so that their daughters are treated well after marriage. Sadly, this leads to problems like stress, fights and sometimes even crimes. But things are slowly changing. Some people like Amit Saini, are now, saying no to dowry, which is a very good and brave step forward.
Click here to watch the clip
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