👉 Dowagers, also known as dowry, is a custom payment system in many parts of India that has been used for centuries to ensure the dowry of male relatives. It involves paying money or goods to the male family members of the bride's parents, usually during her wedding ceremony. This payment is intended to secure the marriage and ensure that the groom will have a good wife and a child. In Hinduism, dowry is considered sacred and is often seen as an essential part of the