To curb unnecessary expenses in weddings and social functions, villagers of Khat Sili Gothan in the Sahia region near Dehradun have introduced a new and strict social system. In a joint meeting, villagers unanimously decided that only ₹101 will be given as shagun during marriages, aiming to reduce financial pressure on families.
The meeting was held at the Government Junior High School ground in Badanu village and was attended by residents of 12 villages associated with the Khat. The gathering was chaired by Khat Syana Manjeet Singh Tomar. During the meeting, villagers also imposed a complete ban on serving beer at weddings and other social events across all Khat villages.
Apart from wedding-related decisions, consensus was also reached to organise the traditional “Jagda Buransh” of Shilguru Maharaj from Masrad village in the year 2027, which is observed once every 12 years.
Several long-standing customs were also reviewed and restricted. The villagers agreed to ban the practice of tika ceremonies and the tradition of bringing goats, flour, rice and semolina from the maternal side during the first marriage in a family. Similarly, daughters of the Khat villages will no longer give or receive goats during such ceremonies. The practice of gifting silver coins and clothes during the Reni Bhoj was also prohibited.
The villagers clearly stated that anyone violating these decisions will face social boycott. The resolutions were passed with full agreement, reflecting a collective effort to promote simplicity, social equality and financial discipline within the community.
