did the dowry is essential

i think the dowry system shuold be abolished..this is what has caused so much female infantacide around the world..that when girls are born they are considered a burden and are ofter abandoned or killed..muslims have the dowry the other way around..the man gives it to the girl and it is no pressure for the man cos it is only something he can afford to give..not a fixed price..to be honest it is better that couples do what they want at time of marriage..this dowry business is like a cattle market..buying and selling ..there can be no price put on love.. i say ban the dowry..

Dowry is no longer a must here in the Philippines. It depends upon the agreement of the family. But on the wedding day, friends and relatives give gifts to the new couple for them to have things for their start.

In olden days, when a man is married to a woman, he has to lead his own life separately, therefore there was need to have all things from pin to elephant (not in literal sense)to start the family. In that situation, the father in law of the bridge groom would give lots of things (mostly household articles) and personal things in the form of gift along with some cash. The meaning behind it is to lead a life on his own. People have made it as mandatory irrespective of economic situation of the bridgegroom. Even today there are lots of people who receive these presents eventhough they are well off. There are some people, though not rich, refuse to take the money, only the gifts are accepted.

where i come from. Dowry is essential. It doesnt matter what tribe you are from, you have to pay the dowry as it is regarded as a norm in the society and i do not think it could be abolished