Reverse Baraat | Fathers Welcoming Daughters Home Breaks Society’s Silence on Domestic Abuse
Harmony Foundation Founder-Chairman Dr. Abraham Mathai has lauded the emerging “reverse baraat” trend as a powerful symbol of women empowerment, saying it challenges deep-rooted societal norms that often force women to stay in abusive marriages.
Reacting to a recent incident in Meerut, where a former judge welcomed his daughter home after her divorce with a dhol, garlands, and मिठाई outside a family court, Dr. Mathai described the moment as “a baraat in reverse”—a celebration not of departure, but of return.
“For generations, Indian weddings have celebrated the baraat to mark a daughter leaving her home. But we never questioned why her return was never celebrated,” he said.
Dr. Mathai highlighted that societal stigma around divorce continues to silence many women facing domestic abuse. Fear of judgment, rejection, and lack of family support often compels women to endure toxic or violent marriages.
“The reverse baraat sends a strong message—that a daughter’s home is always open to her. When a father welcomes his daughter back with pride instead of shame, it shifts the narrative from stigma to dignity,” he added.
Calling the act a “true expression of women empowerment,” Dr. Mathai—who also served as former Vice-Chairman of the State Minorities Commission—emphasized the need for families to stand firmly behind women choosing safety over suffering.
“When a father stands outside a courtroom with celebration instead of silence, he tells the world that his daughter’s dignity matters more than societal judgment. That is real empowerment,” he said.
He further urged parents across the country to adopt a more supportive and progressive approach, encouraging them to celebrate their daughters’ courage rather than questioning their choices.
“No woman should be forced to remain in a violent marriage due to lack of support. When families open their arms—and their homes—with pride, they give women the strength to walk away from abuse,” Dr. Mathai concluded.a violent marriage because she has nowhere to go. When fathers open their arms and homes with celebration, they give their daughters the courage to choose safety over suffering,” Dr. Mathai concluded.
