Islamic Wedding Traditions (Part 1)

Always Fabulous Events serves a diverse community. I have previously posted about Hispanic traditions. Today, I want to discuss Islamic wedding traditions.

There are many ceremonies involved in the marriage process.

The Mangni (Engagement ceremony)
~The bride's attire is provided by the groom's family.
~The bride and groom exchange rings.

The Manjah Ceremony
~1 or 2 days before the wedding, the bride is anointed with a turmeric paste which is provided by the groom's family. Only unmarried women apply this to the bride.
~Henna is applied to her hands and feet.
~After this ceremony, she may not leave her house until it is time for her wedding.
~On the day of her wedding, the groom's family will provide her clothing.

The Groom's Procession
~On the wedding day, the groom is accompanied by friends and family from his home to the wedding venue.
~A shamiana (large decorated tent) is erected if there is no concrete-paved area is available.

Arrival of the Groom & Guests
~The groom is greeted by the sound of drums and musical instruments.
~The groom and the bride's brother exchange a glass of sharbet (a sweetened drink) and money.
~The bride's sisters welcome the guests by playfully hitting them with a flower-wrapped stick.

The Wedding Ceremony
~In some Muslim ceremonies, the men and women are seated in separate rooms with a curtain pulled between them.
~The meher (a monetary amount paid by the groom's family to the bride's family) is decided upon by the elders of both families.
~The officiating priest asks the bride if she is happy with the arrangement and if she agrees to marry the groom. Then the groom is asked the same.
~The priest will read a selection from the Koran, witnessed by 2 males and a lawyer.
~The marriage is registered (nikaahnama). It is first signed by the groom and then two witnesses. The bride will sign later.
~The groom is then taken to the women's section where he gives money and gifts to the bride's sisters and receives the blessings of the elder women.
~Dinner is served separately to the men and the women.
~The groom's family eats separately.
~After their first meal, the groom and bride are seated together and a long scarf is used to cover their heads while the priest makes them read prayers. The Holy Koran is kept between them and they are allowed to see each other through reflections in mirrors.
~Dried dates and a sweet dish are served to the guests.
~The groom spends the night in a separate room at the bride's house with a younger brother. In the morning he is given clothes, money and gifts by the bride's parents.
~That afternoon his relatives come to accompany the bridal couple to their home.

The Rukhsat Ceremony
~The farewell is performed by the father of the bride by asking the groom to protect the bride always, as he gives the groom the bride’s hand.
~Four days after the wedding, the husband brings his wife and her family back to a reception hosted by his family. It is then that the two families become one.

I’ll post more about Islamic Wedding Traditions next time.