Description

A Muslim marriage is referred to as Nikaah.Itis a beautiful contract between the bride and the groom tospendthe rest of their lives together. A typical Muslim marriageischaracterized by much color and gaiety. Men and women dressedintheir traditional attire gather together to celebrate theweddingwith much zeal and enthusiasm.

The mehendi ceremony inaugurates the Muslim wedding. Thiseventtakes place at the house of the bride wherein the hands andfeet ofthe bride and the other female members of the house areadornedwith beautiful henna patterns. Turmeric paste is alsoapplied onthe face, hands and feet of the bride. After thisceremony thebride should not step out of the house till the weddingday. Thisevent starts the wedding festivities. The ladies of thehouse singtraditional wedding songs and there is much fun andexcitement.

Similar to other Indian marriages the wedding venue is thehouseof the bride where the groom arrives on the wedding day withhisfamily and friends. They are welcomed amidst much teasingandbanter by the relations of the bride. The bride is usuallydeckedin the clothes and jewelry that had been sent to her by thegroom'sfamily. The bridegroom on the other hand wears a sherwaniand atopi.

The actual wedding ceremony is referred to as Nikaah. Thebrideand the groom are kept in separate rooms and there is acurtainthat separates the two. The walis, the fathers of the brideand thegroom play an important role in a Muslim wedding. Thewedding isconducted by a maulvi (priest) who reads passages fromthe holyQuran to solemnize the marriage. The assent of both thegroom andthe bride is taken and is registered in the Nikaahnamawhich is thesacred marriage document. This is later signed by thegroom and thebride.

After this the groom is blessed by the elderly ladiespresentthere and the guests pray for the happy married life of thenewlyweds. This is followed by a sumptuous meal. The ladies andthegentlemen are served separately. The maulvi places theQuranbetween the couples and they can see each other onlythroughmirrors. The bride next leaves for her new home where shelooksforward to begin her new life. Valimah is the grand receptionthatis hosted by the groom's family. This serves to bring boththefamilies together and is a joyous occasion.

Marriage is both a social necessity as well as a religiousdutyin Islam. A great emphasis is thus laid on the social as wellasthe religious dimensions of the ceremony. A typical Muslimmarriageis a grand affair that extends to four or five days. Thenikaah canbe conducted at any convenient time and venue. The familyandfriends of the bride and groom come together to make themarriage atruly joyous occasion