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A huge dowry, now that is a waste of money, but it's not mentioned in the article.

Except that it may prevent your new in-laws from harassing your daughter so much that she freaking immolates herself.

http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-04-14/rajko...

I know perfectly well, which is why I think the dowry system is terrible as a whole and should be banned. It might have been a sort of incentive not to kill your own daughters (which is what used to happen in China, for example), but it's 2013 and even rural Indians now know women have their own unique strengths and will benefit their own family. Dowries are a terrible tradition that have no beneficial effect whatsoever for economy and society, and the sooner they are stopped, the better.

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