In an unusual incident from Shamshabad town in Agra, Uttar Pradesh, a bride called off her wedding on Saturday night due to the lack of air-conditioning at the venue. The disagreement, which initially began over discomfort from the intense heat and poor ventilation, soon spiraled into allegations of dowry demands and abuse.
According to reports, the bride felt suffocated during the ceremony and insisted that the groom’s family install air conditioning at the venue. Labeling the conditions “unacceptable and inhuman,” the bride refused to continue unless proper arrangements were made.
However, instead of resolving the issue, the groom’s family allegedly responded with abuse. The situation worsened, prompting the bride to walk away from the mandap. She later stated that continuing with the marriage would bring her “no respect” and that her “life would become hell” if it went ahead.
Dowry Allegations and Police Case
As tensions escalated, the bride’s mother lodged a formal dowry complaint with local police. Station-in-charge Hansraj Bhadoria told The Print, “We tried to bring both families to a resolution, but the bride stayed firm on her decision and refused to marry.” The bride returned home with her family the next morning.
A relative from the bride’s side also accused the groom’s family of verbal abuse. “When all efforts to mitigate the dispute failed, the family decided to pay the groom’s side whatever expense they had incurred in arranging the wedding. Once the payment was made, the family left the wedding venue,” the relative added.
AC As A Symbol of Respect and Survival
While wedding cancellations due to disputes aren’t new, this incident has drawn attention for highlighting two parallel issues: the persistent dowry culture and India’s growing climate crisis. In today’s scorching heatwaves, air-conditioning is no longer seen as a luxury but a necessity, especially during large gatherings.
This case follows a similar recent incident where another bride’s family called off a wedding after the groom insulted the dowry furniture sent to his home. That decision was widely praised on social media.
