Asian Journal of Home Science

Gaganpreet Kaur ¹, Lakhwinder Kaur ²

Affiliations
1 Department of Extension Education, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana (Punjab), IN
2 Department of Extension Education, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana (Punjab), IN

Abstract

Dowry is considered to be an integral part of marriage ceremony. The present investigation was carried out in rural areas of Punjab to determine the causes and consequences of dowry in Rural Punjab. The data were collected personally from the two generations i.e. Mother-in-laws (G1) and daughter-in –laws (G2). The findings depicted that majority of motherin- laws were in the age group of 50-57 years and daughter-in-laws were in age group 26-33 years. Most of the respondents reported that dowry was important in settling of the marriage in both the generations. Majority of G1 respondents had no indication of dowry from the groom side whereas G2 respondents had complete indication of dowry before marriage. It was noted that mother-in-laws demanded the dowry in both the generations. The findings further revealed that dowry is practiced as a tradition and more land holding of groom/ bride are important factors contributing to the dowry payments. Also, a large number of G2 respondents highlighted that abroad settled groom aspire more dowries. All the respondents reported female feoticide as the main irony of dowry system. Other consequences felt by the respondents were the domestic violence, divorce, burden on the bride’s parents and ill-treatment by in-laws. Both the respondents perceived dowry as a medium to enhance status of bride in the in-laws families followed by feeling of confidence by bride after receiving dowry from parents. However, it is ironic that the cruel cultural practice has deeply enischolar_mained in marriage institution.

Keywords

Dowry, Cause, Effect Syndrome.

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Lakhwinder Kaur ¹, Vinita Pandey ²

Affiliations
1 Department of Extension Education, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana (Punjab), IN
2 Department of Extension Education, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana (Punjab), IN

Abstract

The present study entitled ‘Water management strategies at household level’ was conducted in Ludhiana district of Punjab. A sample of 150 women was interviewed to know the extent of use of water while performing various activities and to get their suggestions to save water for future use. The findings of the study highlighted that majority of the respondents belonged to age group of 29-39 years, belonged to general and nuclear family. Further sixty eight per cent of the respondents wasted water upto ‘great extent’ while washing of vegetables directly under running taps and 53.33 per cent wasted water while brushing, shaving, cleaning the hand etc. most of the respondents suggested to avoid wastage of water at home. To protect the earth’s most precious resource to meet the current and future human demand, paper highlighted various water management technologies to be adopted at household level to save water resources.

Keywords

Extent of Use, Management Strategies, Household.

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Gaganpreet Kaur ¹, Lakhwinder Kaur ²

Affiliations
1 Department of Economics and Sociology, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana (Punjab), IN
2 Department of Extension Education, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana (Punjab), IN

Abstract

The study focused to determine the change and continuity in cultural practices related to marriages. The present study was carried out in three cultural zones of Punjab viz., Malwa, Majha and Doaba. The data were collected personally from the two types of respondents viz., Mother-in-laws (G1) and daughter-in –laws (G2) constituting a sample of 360 respondents each. Majority of the G1 and G2 respondents performed ‘Roka/Thaka’ ceremonies followed by ‘Chunni Chadana’ ceremony. Majority (69.44 %) of G2 respondents had Ring ceremony and (69.72 %) performed Shagun ceremony whereas only few of first generation (G1) respondents performed both these ceremonies. In G1 respondents, Ladies sangeet was performed only by the ladies from adjoining houses and villages whereas in case of G2 respondents the DJ’s replaced the traditional sangeet. The traditional sweets such as Ladoos were replaced by costly sweets, dry fuits and chocolates in second generation. All the respondents of G1 respondents prepared hand knitted items, phulkaris, pakhiyan as dowry items but very few of G2 respondents prepared them. The traditional ceremonies such as Din bandhana, Atte pani pauna, Bambiha bulana, Sithniyan are being lesser followed by G2 respondents. There was a shift regarding believe in astrology as only 28.61 per cent of G2 respondents believed in astrology. So, it was seen that there is a continuity of traditional ceremonies but a major shift in performing ladies sangeet, kind of dowry items, and sweets served was seen nowadays. People maintain ceremonies as traditional while simultaneously appropriating them for changes in broader society. Keeping traditional ceremonies as a way of preserving cultural identity in a society that is becoming more influenced by global trends.

Keywords

Ceremonies, Change, Continuity, Marriage.

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