All You Need to Know About the Big, Fat Muslim Wedding

 All You Need to Know About the Big, Fat Muslim Wedding


Muslim weddings are steeped in tradition and culture with numerous ceremonies to celebrate the bond of marriage. We share with all you need to know about a Muslim matrimonial to help you plan your own special one.

Pre Wedding Ceremonies - Like every Indian marriage, Muslim weddings also have many pre wedding rituals to mark the start of a wedding. Istikhara is the first pre wedding ceremony. In this ceremony the religious head asks for Allah's consent to hold the wedding. Soon after this ceremony the groom's mother goes to the bride's house with Imam-Zamin, a silver or gold coin presented in a silk cloth. This is tied on the bride's arm. She also offers sweets as a mark of a good omen. Following this ceremony is the Mangni, where the groom's family goes to the bride's house with sweets and fruits CreativEvent.

Next in line is the Manjha ritual in which the bride wears yellow clothes and the female relatives of the bride anoint her with turmeric paste to add that glow on the special day. Now the bride is supposed to stay indoors till the wedding day. The Mehendi function usually takes place on the eve of the wedding where henna is applied on hands and feet of the bride to give an added touch of colour and beauty to the gorgeous bride.

Sanchaq is the last of pre wedding rituals wherein the groom's family gives clothes and jewellery for the bride that she is to wear at the Nikah and Chauthi.

Wedding Rituals -The main wedding ceremony starts with the Nikah where the two religious heads representing the two families perform the ceremony. Mehar, a compulsory amount given to the bride by the groom's family is decided upon here. Thereafter, the Maulavi asks both the bride and the groom thrice for their consent to the wedding. A Nikahnama or marriage contract is signed by the couple to legalise the wedding. Once the actual wedding ritual is complete, the maulavis recite the Khutba- a religious discourse. They are showered with blessings of all followed by a lavish dinner. Thereafter, Aarsi Mushaf takes place wherein the couple is seated facing each other with their heads covered by a piece of cloth. The Holy Quran and a mirror are kept between them and they are supposed to see each other for the first time through that.

Post Wedding Rituals - The post wedding customs commence with the Rukhsat where the bride's family bids a teary goodbye to her before she leaves for her new home. The groom's mother welcomes the new bride at the house placing a Quran above her head as she enters the house for the first time after the wedding. Thereafter, the groom's family hosts a Valima or a grand feast celebrating the wedding. Lastly, the couple visits the bride's family in an official ceremony called Chauthi usually on the fourth day of the wedding; first time as a married couple.

Every religion is marked with traditions and customs especially on joyous occasions like weddings. A Muslim matrimonial also has a strong cultural saga that is expressed in a beautiful way at their weddings.