Ghazni elders cut dowry price, ban extravagant weddings

GHAZNI CITY (Pajhwok): Tribal elders from different parts of Ghazni city, the capital of southern Ghazni province, have decided to reduce dowry amount to 300,000 afghanis and prohibit excessive expenditures on marriages.

Ghazni religious scholars committee and the general council of central representatives issued a twelve-article resolution, fixing the dowry amount at 300,000afs and jewelry at 20 grams.

According to the resolution, the number of guests at the wedding hall should not exceed 700 people, extravagant engagement ceremonies are prohibited and the groom’s clothing ceremony should be held after the lunch.

The decision comes as expensive marriages have become a tradition. The groom’s family in Ghazni City and districts are asked to pay up to one million afghanis in the name of dowry.

Mohammad Agha, a tribal elder, told Pajhwok Afghan News the decision was made because dowry and other wedding expenses were very high in many areas of Ghazni and as a result many youth had to travel to neighboring countries to earn money.

He added: “There are many youth who cannot afford high dowry and unemployment is the reason why youth turn to drugs and destroy their lives.”

Haji Mohammad Barakat, another tribal elder, told Pajhwok that different tribes were living in Ghazni and many of them had agreed not to follow bad customs and traditions.

“Reducing dowry cost and banning extravagant marriages by elders will usher into a positive trend,” he believed.

Meanwhile, Ismatullah, a young man, welcomed the tribal elders’ decision  and said he had been engaged since past four years, but was yet to arrange dowry and other expenses.

He added: “In addition to the dowry, the bride family demands some other expenses from the groom family which many youth cannot afford.”

Meanwhile, some religious scholars also called the decision of tribal elders as correct and lent their support.

Maulvi Haji Mohammad, a religious scholar, told Pajhwok that religious scholars supported decisions which benefitted the people and solved society problems.

He called the decision of tribal elders about high dowry and wedding expenses as correct and hoped such jirgas would be held in future to solve social problems.

Local officials also praised the decision of tribal elders and said high dowry and weddings expenses remained a challenge in some areas of the province.

Ghazni governor spokesman Hafiz Omar asked influential figures, other tribal elders and governmental officials to work together with the elders and support them.

Ghazni is among largest cities of the country with a population of about one million people. This is the first time that tribal elders from various parts of the city decided to prevent high dowry and wedding expenses.

kk/ma

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