Marriage Customs

If you have never experienced a proper Pakistani wedding, you really do not
know anything about getting married in style. The best part about Pakistani
weddings is that they are hardly ever a two to three day event. For example, The
dholkis or the native dance nights start a month earlier and are conducted
almost every week till the actual week of the wedding arrives. The dholki is
nothing like you have ever experienced before. The conventional dholkies were
when a bunch of aunts of the bride (or of the groom) gathered around a small
drum and sang old wedding songs. So in reality, Pakistani weddings are fabulous
event which are so rich and filled with interesting and tradations and customs
that it feels as if you have stepped in a fairy tale. Every family has a different
background and history so every Pakistani wedding is extremely unique, exciting
and unpredictible.
First of all a proposal is sent to the bride by the grooms family. All the elders of both of
the family discuss the propsal and reach a mutual agreement and if the bride and the
groom consent to the marriage then only the proposal is accepted. Without the
agreement of the bride or the groom the 'nikkah' is considred void. If the proposal is
accepted then rejoicing and celebrations are held in both families and it is tradational to
eat something sweet at that moment.
Then the much-awaited engagement party is held. This is the first step in the huge way
of celebrations. The engagement party is customarily hosted by the grooms side and the
family of the bride is invited. Rings are exchanged and food is served and the elders of
the family bless the couple.
Then comes another event the, Mayoon. Mayoon is celebrated for a night only by the
brides side and after that nigh the to-be bride is made free of all errands and duties.She
is allowed to rest and plan for the future. She also goes with the females of the grooms
family to shop for the marriage. Mayoon focuses on one of the most exciting aspect of
Pakistani marriages as the game of uptan is played. Uptan is a powder which when
mixed with water turns ina paste. This paste cleanses the body and is a important ritual
for the