Kashmiri Muslim Wedding- Custom, Rituals and Preparation

Weddings are no less than festivals. We always say weddings are a matter of celebration. But Kashmiri Muslim Weddings are way above that. It is a rather experience one must get in his life. It is rich in culture and filled with rituals. The Kashmiri weddings are quite intriguing and sophisticated also. The fun and the entertainment make the perfect and cheerful ambience.

 

Now to organize a wedding, your first and foremost thing to do is to decide the venue of the wedding and book a slot according to the date and availability. Here is a list of where you can find the dandiest wedding halls of all in Jammu & Kashmir-

 

Lemon Tree Hotel

Nigeen Residency Resort, Srinagar

The Orchard Retreat and Spa

Hotel Pine Spring

Vivanta Dal View

Raddison, Srinagar

Hotel CH2

 

If you are looking for budget-friendly wedding banquets in Jammu & Kashmir-

 

Moghal Mahal, Srinagar

Hotel Snowpeak

Ennco Resort

Royal Spring Resorts

Hotel Valley Orchid

 

 

 

The Wedding- Ritual and Outfit

 

 

The Manzimyor

 

Manzimyor is a traditional Kashmiri word for matchmaker. The family of the Kashmiri bride or groom hires a professional Kashmiri matchmaker to help them find a suitable match for the girl or the boy.

 

Parche Traavun

 

The manzimyor then researches, matches horoscopes, collects profiles and shares the most eligible ones with the family in a process called Parche Traavun. Now the family decides if the match they like or not and then selects the match according to the compatibility. The families also do some background checks before proceeding further. The interested families talk to each other and if everything goes well they decide to move forward.

 

Vichni gasun

Once both families are satisfied, they decide to see the bride or the groom. They organize a meeting at a restaurant or astaans(shrines). The marriage is only finalized after the ‘vichni gasun’. The consent of both the bride and groom is also taken into consideration.

 

Thaap Traavin

 

Once both families approve the marriage, the groom’s family adorns the bride with a piece of heavy gold jewellery and Edward stamped coins usually called Poend. This marks the officialization of marriage. After that, majmas (a large copper plate) filled with sweets and dry fruits are sent to all the relatives to announce the wedding.

 

Nishayn or Nikah Nishayn

 

Nishayn is a formal engagement where Nikah is read embarking on the legalization of marriage. It is mostly organised by the bride’s family where both the families invite their close ones like relatives and friends. The couples are loaded with gifts and the guests are treated to traditional Kashmiri cuisine and sweets called Wazwan.

 

After Nishayn, the Kashmiri Muslim bride and groom are allowed to see each other or date officially.

 

Saatnaam

 

After Nishayn, the wedding dates are finalized and a grand get-together called Saatnaam is organised at the respective places of the bride and the groom. Both the family invites their relatives and friends and announces the wedding dates to the invitees. The celebration is further enlightened by a traditional folk dance, wanwun (Kashmiri songs) and tasty Kashmiri treats. The couples are showered with blessings in Saatnaam.

 

Tomul Tchatun

 

A few months before the wedding, quintals of rice are bought and female members of the family sit together to clean the impurities from the rice.

 

Malmaenz or Haldi

 

Here comes the main celebration of the wedding Malmaenz. In this tradition, the elder woman of the bride’s family applies hair oil to the bride’s hair, does tiny fancy braids and wraps them with colourful ribbons. Later, haldi is applied to the bride. The famous Kashmiri songs are sung by these women and one by one they are allowed to undo these braids. This tradition is called ‘Mas Traavun’.

 

Maenzraat

 

The bride’s hands and feet are adorned with intricate henna (mehendi) designs. The female members of the family also apply henna on their hands. The groom also applies a little bit of henna and the groom’s little finger is wrapped with a 500 or 2000 rupee note as a good omen.

The traditional wedding songs are sung non-stop throughout the night. The folk dance contributes to making the ambience even more cheerful. And the bride is blessed with all the love and care. The maenzraat is a complete fun package which you celebrate with your friends, sisters, cousins and relatives. The bride and the groom are gifted with jewellery, personal care products, etc., by the guests.

 

Aab Shehrun

 

On the morning of the wedding day, the Kashmiri bride baths and cleanses herself for the beginning of a new phase in her life. After that, she wears her traditional Kashmiri bridal dress. She also recites verses from the Quran and offers two rakath of namaz.

 

The Wedding dress

 

The Kashmiri Muslim bride and groom wear breathtaking attire on their wedding day. Their attire showcases the simplicity of their culture which further adds beauty to the marriage.

 

The bride usually wears a heavily embroidered pheran with intriguing designs. A pheran is a salwar kameez which looks jazzy with traditional woven work and embroidery. A turban or headwear known as Kasaba is tied on the head. Kasaba is available in different colours and is held tight on the bride’s head with silver pins and trinkets. It is adorned with gold embroidery and silver pendants hanging on the forehead. She wears a trim less called gurabi. Further adding to the beauty of the bride, she wears heavy silver jewellery. The jewellery includes heavy packs of earrings upheld by a thick chain, necklace, bracelets and payals around her ankles. This gives a stunning look to the Kashmiri Muslim bride.

 

On the other hand, the Kashmiri Muslim groom wears a pheran (similar to kurta) with a heavily embellished broad belt around his waist. His head is adorned with a Muslim cap on his wedding day embarking on his devotion towards his religion.

 

The wedding attire of the bride and groom plays a quite remarkable role on the wedding day. Their elegant look increases the pride of the celebration.

 

 

Nikah Khawani

 

Nikah is the wedding day when both the bride and groom tie the knot and welcome each other into their lives. The wedding hall is embellished with lights and flowers vibing the auspicious day. With all the preparations done, the dignity of the hall is further enhanced by the arrival of the gorgeous bride & handsome groom.

 

Nikah can be performed in both- Asaalatan i.e., In the presence of the couple in close proximity and Wakalatan i.e., In the presence of the witnesses. The Qazi (priest) recites the verses from the Quran and prays for the long happiness & prosperity of the newlywed couple. Everyone congratulates the couple on the new beginning.

 

 

Yini Wol

On the day of Yini Wol, close ones are invited to treat themselves with the lavish feast called Kashmiri Wazwan. Everyone gives their blessings to the couple for a long happy married life.

 

Mahraaz Saal

 

The baraatis i.e., the groom and his relatives and friends arrive at the decided venue and the various Kashmiri delicacies are served on the fancy copper plates. The groom sits on the Masnand– a platform of fine silk carpet. This magnificent feast is known as Mahraaz Saal.

 

Ruksati

 

After the feast is served, the time finally comes when the bride bids farewell to her family and leaves for her Waeriv (in-laws).

 

Kadal-e-taar

 

This is a fun ritual on the groom’s side. After Ruksati, when the groom is on his way to take her bride home, the friends of the groom block the way and stop the vehicle. They do not let them pass until they receive money that is Kadal-e-taar from the groom.

 

Muhar Tullun

 

After the couple reaches their house, the bride is happily welcomed by her mother-in-law. In the honour of the bride, a goat is slaughtered. The mother lifts the Muhar Tullun (veil) of the bride and blesses her. The relatives gathered offer gifts to her and traditional wedding songs are sung by the crowd to welcome her.

 

Walima

 

Walima is the grand feast or reception organized by the groom’s family. They invite their friends, relatives, colleagues and neighbours to enjoy the feast and bless them for the new beginning in their life.

 

Khabri Gasun

 

In the following days, the bride’s relatives except her parents offer visits to the bride’s new house and load her gifts.

 

Phiri Saal

 

After all these rituals, a few days later, the bride’s family invites their daughter and their son-in-law along with his relatives for a meal and gives them the royal treatment.

 

Satim Doh

 

Now the couple returns to their new home. The next seven days after the wedding are celebrated. In those seven days, the bride wears the seven different colours and is not prohibited from regular household work. On the Satim Doh i.e. the seventh day, the bride’s family are invited to the feast at the groom’s house.

 

At the end of the function, the bride takes permission from her husband and in-laws to go live with her parents for a few days.

 

Phirraa Khaber

 

Phirraa Khaber marks the end of the wedding celebrations. After the bride returns to her new house, her relatives pay visits to her just to know if she is going well in her new life. This is known as Phirraa Khaber.