Traditionally in India, women receive various types of gifts from their parents during their wedding or before marriage, a practice known as “Streedhan”. These gifts evidently become their husband’s property too after marriage. However, what do you think, do your husband or in-laws have the right over the Streedhan – the gifts and belongings you receive during your lifetime? The answer is NO!
What is Streedhan?
The word ‘’Streedhan” has been derived from the words ‘Stri’ meaning a woman and the word ‘dhana’ which means property. Therefore by combining these two words we get ‘property of woman’ her ‘Streedhan’.
As per Hindu Law, Streedhan refers to the property received by a woman in the form of a gift from her relatives during her wedding. She has inalienable rights over such property. This may include immovable property like houses or movable property like jewelry.
A woman has an absolute right over jewelry and other assets she has received from her parents or relatives. Her husband cannot acquire an interest in her jewelry and any other assets through marriage.
What property can be obtained by a woman with absolute rights?
According to Section 14 of the Hindu Succession Act, 1956 property obtained by a woman from the following sources is her absolute property:
> by inheritance
> By device –through a will or a settlement
> At a partition
> In lieu of maintenance
> By gift
> By personal skill and exertion
> Purchase and prescription –with the help of her own funds
> Acquired in any other manner- property received under a decree or award, or through adverse possession
Difference between Dowry and Streedhan
Streedhan is often misunderstood as dowry but these two are different things.
Dowry is any property or valuable security given or agreed by the bride’s side to the family of the bridegroom before, during, or after marriage, by exploiting or threatening (coercion) the girl or her family whereas Streedhan is the right of every woman which is being given voluntarily to the bride.
Dowry is the ritual that is followed which adds up the baggage of every girl’s family. With the spread of awareness, this system is been reducing but still, some ounce of this system is still floating in India.
Conclusion
To conclude,
An informed woman should make a list of all the gifts and properties received before, during, and after marriage from her family, husband’s family, friends, and other connections. The woman should keep papers of all the gifts received so that in case of any unfortunate situation, you are prepared for the same.
As women, you should be aware of all the legal rights you have and feel empowered and financially fearless!!
Related Article You may Like :- Health Insurance for Women
Share this blog with your family and friends if you find it insightful!!
Download the LXME app for more such content!
FAQS – Frequently Asked Questions
What is stridhan in divorce?
In the context of divorce, stridhan refers to the property that a woman can claim as her own, even after separation from her husband. It is seen as a measure of financial security for women in adverse situations like divorce.
What do you mean by stridhan?
Stridhan, derived from the Sanskrit words ‘Stri’ meaning woman and ‘dhan’ meaning property, refers to the property that a woman acquires during her lifetime. This can include gifts from her parents, in-laws, or others, received before, during, or after her marriage. It is considered the absolute property of the woman with full rights to dispose of it at her own pleasure.
What is stridhan from in laws?
Stridhan from in-laws refers to any gifts or property given to a woman by her in-laws during her marriage or afterwards. This forms part of her stridhan and is considered her exclusive property.
What is the difference between dowry and Streedhan?
The difference between stridhan and dowry lies in the element of demand and coercion. Dowry involves a demand from the groom’s family and is considered illegal and unethical. On the other hand, stridhan is voluntarily given to the bride without any demand or coercion, making it legal and an empowering aspect of a woman’s life.
Comment “?” if you found this blog helpful!!
Certainly! Here’s a revised version:
Feel free to bookmark this blog for future reference. Join our community to discover safe investment opportunities with the LXME app. Your financial journey begins here! 🚀
other blogs
Smart Money November 23, 2023
Is SIP better than RD?
In this inflation-bearing world just investing in Recurring Deposits (RD), Fixed Deposits(FD), Physical Gold, Savings Deposits, etc. is not enough as their returns cannot beatinflation. Besides, women are very conservative investors and prefer RD over mutual funds,however, now its time to upgrade ourselves. So, what should one do to get inflation-beating returns and get the … Is SIP better than RD?
By Team LXME
Smart Career Smart Money
SMART WAYS TO USE YOUR DIWALI BONUS
It’s always a great surprise to receive that well-deserved bonus during Diwali, after all, Lakshmi ko kaun mana karta hai? But spending that bonus is the trick most of us struggle with. Don’t worry, LXME will teach you how to spend bonus money and how to invest bonus money. Let’s follow the 50, 40, 10 … SMART WAYS TO USE YOUR DIWALI BONUS
By Team LXME
Smart Money November 17, 2023
UPI Transfer: How to Recover Money Sent To Wrong UPI Id?
In today’s digital age, UPI has revolutionized the way we handle financial transactions. Thisconvenient and efficient system allows users to send and receive money with just a few taps ontheir smartphones. However, like any technology, UPI is not immune to human error. In some cases,users may find themselves in a situation where they’ve made a … UPI Transfer: How to Recover Money Sent To Wrong UPI Id?
By Team LXME