Culture is all about our ways of living, language, dress, education, religion, and rituals. Festivals and occasions held great importance in the culture of every country. Everyone possesses different rituals and customs according to their own tradition. Actually they help to form the foundation of society, and provide meaning to our lives. It's very important to keep our culture alive because it maintains our identity and provide us satisfaction.
Culture passes from one generation to the other through social learning. I live in Pakistan, so we follow the Islamic traditions which holds great importance in our hearts. If I talk about the marriage rituals in Pakistan, then these are mostly traditional arranged marriages, in which groom's family ask the bride's hand in marriage. It's not only the union of couple but alliance of their families too. The age for marriage is 16 for girls and 18 for boys with their commitment.
Pakistani wedding consists of Dolki, Mehndi, Nikaah, Baraat, and Walima, in which Nikaah is the most important event because it's the religious legal contract to make this relationship.
Dolki:
Dolki is the most enjoyable part of marriage ceremony. Almost one week before the marriage ceremony, ladies of the both families sit together to sing different songs with Dolki every day, and it ends before Mehndi night. Sometimes they divided into two sectors, one for boys and one for girls, and a competition is held between both sides, in which winner is awarded with prize from both sides. After dolki, special kinds of sweets are served to the guests.
Mehndi:
This is actual start of marriage ceremony, and a most colorful night in which all the ladies put mehndi on their hands and also lift the beautifully decorated plates with colorful bangles in their arms. Couple is also served with a lot of sweets by the whole family...lol. The most enjoyable part of the Mehndi night is the "bhangra". All the males took part in this special dance on Dhol beat. This function usually start at 9:00 PM, and stays for three to four hours.
Barat:
This is the final and biggest event in which the nikah ritual is performed and all the guests are served with the splendid meal. The whole family wears glorious and splendid dresses, and bride wears her special wedding dress in red color which is called "Lehnga". The red color symbolizes love and affection of newly-wed couple. On the arrival of Groom the girls from the bride side are standing in the doorway to welcome him with flowers, and to take money from the groom.
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At the stage, different amusing rituals are performed by the sisters of bride as "Juta chupai rasam." This is simply the hiding the shoes of groom to demand money...lol There is also another ritual in which sisters and cousins of bride sit on the stage with bride to demand money and never let groom to sit with bride until he never pays money...lol 😂
Vidaai is the most emotional part of the whole marriage ceremony in which the family of bride is gathered for farewell to bride for groom's house with best wishes.
Walima:
This is the reception ceremony by the side of groom to officially make the marriage public, in which the whole families of bride and groom are invited at the bride's new home with splendid meal. Groom wears traditional dress and bride wears beautiful dress with gold jewelry. A lot of photographs and videos are recorded to kept as a memory.
So in this way we arrange the whole marriage ceremony with different functions which are great source of pleasure.
So Let me know about the wedding rituals in your area?
I hope you enjoyed reading.
Thanks for reading.
Traditional subcontinent rituals & I am a big fan of it. Mehendi nights are awesome and those singing & dance competitions are so enjoyable. And you forget to mention that 'Naginwala Dance by bewra friends'..... ahahahaha.... Marriage ceremony is incomplete without it.