Overview
- At a Nov. 22 wedding in Muzaffarnagar, 26-year-old Awadhesh Rana, a cosmetics businessman from Nagwa village, declined Rs 31 lakh and took only Rs 1 as shagun.
- During the tilak ritual, he bowed before the money plate and told guests he could not accept the bride’s father’s hard‑earned savings.
- The bride, 24-year-old Aditi Singh, whose father died during the Covid pandemic, completed the ceremonies and left for her new home with visible community support.
- Both families backed the decision, and rituals including the jaimala and kanyadaan proceeded smoothly.
- Local residents and regional outlets say the gesture has become a district talking point and a rare example of rejecting dowry in a region where the illegal practice persists.