Practice of presenting ‘village’ as dowry in marriage

By TRN Online, Inaruwa, Nov 4: The Marik community living in different parts of Sunsari district has a unique practice of providing a village as a dowry to the son-in-law.

Given frequent reports about widespread ill practice of dowry system in the Madesh/Terai region of the country, the practice of the Marik community looks even darker. However, it is not so dark as it appears.

Bhattarai Marik of Sunsari Harinagar-2 confirmed that his community has this practice of providing a village to the son-in-law on condition that the son-in-law agrees to live in the village of his  wife.

The people of the Marik community make different materials including basket, plates, of bamboo and the sell their artifacts in villages and market areas.

They divide the village among themselves as to where one family can sell their produce, village conceived as a market area for a family to sell the products.

If any one breaches this agreement and goes to sell products in village not assigned to him/her, they will have to pay the fine.

This same village or the market area for a family to sell products can be provided as dowry to the son-in-law during marriage for their livelihood, said Chandan Marik, a resident of Harinagar-3. (translated from RSS Nepali news)