The word ‘’Streedhan’ has been derived from the words ‘Stri’ meaning a woman and the word ‘dhana’ meaning property. Therefore, by combining these two words the word ‘Streedhan’ is made.
As per Hindu Law, Streedhan is whatever a woman receives during her marriage. Streedhan includes all movable, immovable property gifts, etc received by women prior to marriage, at the time of marriage, during childbirth,
and her widowhood.
Streedhan differs from Dowry in the sense that it also includes the jewellery and anything and everything that a female obtains from her husband and his extended family at the time of marriage. It differs from dowry in a way that it is a voluntary gift given to a woman before or after her marriage and has no element of coercion. Women have an absolute right over their Streedhan.
Dowry can be taken as a subset of Streedhan but it is not an absolute synonym for dowry. Streedhan has a much wider foundation which makes it legal in India. However, Dowry is prohibited under the dowry prohibition act,1961.
Although, Since, Streedhan includes voluntary gifts in the marriage given to the bride and everything that a woman owns before, at the time of marriage, and after the marriage, it is legal in India.