| Welcoming
the baraat : |
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The
groom arrives at the wedding venue with his baraat
(wedding procession). A band of musicians strike up some
traditional notes to announce their arrival. The groom
shares a drink of sherbet with the bride's brother. The
bride's sisters play pranks and slap the guests playfully
with batons made of flowers. |
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| Nikaah
: |
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The Nikaah or wedding ceremony can be conducted at the
home of the bride or the groom, or at any other convenient
venue. A Maulvi (priest) in the presence of close family
members and relatives conducts the ceremony. In orthodox
Muslim communities, the men and women are seated
separately. The 'Walis' (the father of the bride and of
the bridegroom) play an important role in the ceremony. As
a father, each must ensure that the rights of his child
are protected. The Maulvi reads selected verses from the
Quran, the holy book of the Muslims. The Nikaah is
complete after thIjab-e-Qubul. (proposal and acceptance).
Usually, the boy's side proposes and the girl's side
conveys her assent. The mutual consent of the bride and
groom is of great importance for the marriage to be legal.
Neither of them must be forced to enter into the marital
contract.
It is on the day of the Nikaah that the elder members of
the two families decide the amount of Mehar (nuptial
gift). The Mehar is a compulsory amount of money given by
the groom's family to the bride.
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| Nikaahnama
: |
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The
Nikaahnaama is a document in which the marriage contract
is registered. It contains a set of terms and conditions
that must be respected by both the parties. It also gives
the bride the right to divorce her husband. For the
contract to be legal, it must be signed by the bridegroom,
the bride, the Walis, and the Maulvi. |
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| Blessing
the groom : |
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The
groom receives blessings from the older women and offers
them his salaam (a respectful salutation). The guests pray
for the newly-weds. |
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| Dinner,
Prayers and Aarsimashaf : |
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Dinner
is a lavish spread. Usually, the women and the men dine
separately. After dinner, the newly-weds sit together for
the first time. Their heads are covered by a dupatta
(traditional scarf) while they read prayers under the
direction of the maulvi (priest). The Quran is placed
between the couple and they are allowed to see each only
through mirrors (aarsi). |
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