A video leaving a jaw of Rajasthan has gone viral on social media, which is being exchanged by Rs 21 crore gifts during a pre-marriage ceremony. A clip shared by photographer Sonu Ajmer on Instagram is a traditional ‘Myra’ Or ‘Bhat’ The ceremony where maternal uncle or brothers give gifts to their sisters and nephews or nephews during weddings as a gesture of love and blessings. The grand ‘Myra’ ceremony was a spectacle, with 600-700 family members arrived in a procession of 100 cars and 4 luxury buses, which had four suitcases gifted.
A video of the ceremony, which has viewed 64 million times on Instagram, shows a person announcing the bride’s family by announcing the exceptional gifts. The gifts include 1 kg of gold, 15 kg of silver, 210 bigha land, a petrol pump, a plot in Ajmer, Rs 1.51 crore cash, clothes, vehicles, a total of Rs 15.65 crore. Another video shows that the total sum of gifts reaches Rs 21 crore.
Watch the video here:
The viral clip provoked a hot debate on social media, in which some people questioned the wastage of gifts, arguing that the wealth could be used to establish her life by the bride, perhaps for education, career or financial freedom.
Others defended the tradition, explaining that ‘Myra’ is a cultural ritual apart from dowry, which highlights the importance of understanding the cultural context. He explained that Myra is a voluntary gesture where maternal uncle offers gifts as a symbol of love and support, not a tremendous transaction like dowry.
Despite this, many people expressed concern about pornographic performance of money. The sheer scale of gifts in the viral clip shocked the audience, causing concern about normalizing the performance of extraordinary wealth during weddings. Some people argued that such demonstrations strengthened materialism on meaningful traditions, to overseas social pressure.
A user wrote, “How shameful the groom’s parents can be? They are originally selling their son for materialistic advantage.”
Another comment made, “Wow !!!!! Dowry is being celebrated so proudly and openly.”
One third said, “There will be many who will find different ways to justify that it is right, …. hypocrisy in India.” A fourth added, ‘You call it myra or gift- it is a form of dowry. The government should intervene and stop this dowry practice. ,
