Stridhan

Stridhan is a combination of two Sanskrit words ‘Stri=Woman’ and ‘Dhan=Wealth’ which put together means ‘Woman’s property’. Stridhan is a traditional property right of Hindu women accepted by Indian Hindu Society.Stridhan ensures a women’s economic independence.

Except for a few restrictions during coverture, a Hindu woman is the absolute owner of her stridhan.Any dues from her can also be recovered from her stridhan.Also, a woman who does not wish to accept stridhan cannot be forced to do so; she can choose to accept or reject the gifts given to her as part of the stridhan.Usually stridhan is passed from a mother to her daughters as per her wishes but as the sole owner of her stridhan a woman can will it away as she pleases.On her intestate death, all types of Stridhan, devolved upon her heirs in the following order:

1. upon the sons and daughters (including the children of any pre-deceased son or daughter) and the husband,
2. upon the heirs of the husband.
3. upon the heirs of the father, and
4. upon the heirs of the mother. Read more of this post