Sin Sod: Price the groom must pay for his wife in Thailand

Bangkok, Jun 14 (EFE). —  Araya A.Hargate, a much sought after Thai actress, received gold, jewelry, three plots of land and cash as part of her “sin sod”, an ancient practice that can be translated as the “price of the bride.”

Araya’s husband, an affluent businessman, Visrut Rangsisingpipat spent nearly a whopping $3 million on this “dowry” that is widely practiced in Thailand.

The wedding of Araya (fondly called Chompoo, a Thai fruit) and Visrut took place last year and was widely covered by the Thai media.

In certain Asian countries, including India and China, it is a common practice for the bride’s family to give dowry in the form of gifts or cash to the groom’s family.

In Thailand the tradition is the opposite with the groom’s family paying a dowry to the bride’s family, according to an online legal portal Chawbanlaw.

The value of the sin sod, of course, depends on the social status and qualities of the bride, but in middle class families the amount can vary from $2,800 to $28,800.

However, if the woman is divorced or has a child by another man, the husbandtobe will not have to pay anything.

According to a formula devised by Pasu Ruamkwamkid, a trainee economist, a 30yearold woman with university degree and moderate salary can expect her future husband to cough up $22,600.

Although sin sod is still widespread in Thailand, there are many who are against the practice that in the past served to demonstrate the bond of commitment of the groom’s family to the bride’s family.

“If I marry someone, I will prefer that there is no sin sod. I can support my parents financially,” a young university student Borwonrat Ajjimakul told EFE.

Many Thais have turned the practice into a more symbolic act since the brides’ families return the money to the newlymarried couple.

In the case of Thiamchan Sangkhaphanthanon, a 30yearold professor, her parents returned the majority of the sin sod to help the couple set up their new home.

By Pattheera Hutachoke.