Traditional Pakistani Weddings: A Brief Overview

Pakistani community celebrates weddings with a lot of passion like the other countries. A lot of weddings in Pakistan are arranged.  However, recently people are also marrying according to their own choice with the help of shadi online portals. Being a Muslim country, you will see the reflection of Islam in the wedding ceremony. However, the traditional rituals and customs are influenced from the neighbouring country to add more enjoyment to a wedding. A brief overview of a traditional Pakistani wedding is shared below:

Mangni

An engagement party is held before the wedding to unite the bride’s and groom’s family. The elders exchange rings. Some people also exchange jewellery. Refreshment and tea is served and the function is attended only by the close family. The wedding date is decided after the engagement ceremony.

Mehndi

Mehndi, also known as Rasm-e-Henna is a popular part of a Pakistani wedding.  It held before the wedding and is mainly attended by the females of the family.  As the name suggests, Henna is placed on the feet and hands of the bride. Special female artists are contacted to apply it on the bride hands and feet. However, in some families, the job is given to a cousin or friend who have got good mehndi application skills. Mehndi designs are mostly floral in nature. Songs are sung on the beat of dholki. The bride wears yellow, green or orange. The traditional food dishes for mehndi include halwa puri, puri aloo or chooley, rice and salads.

Baraat Day

Weddings last upto a few days. It is a long lasting memory for both bride and the groom. The bride wears shiny wedding dress with heavy jewelry.  Groom dresses up in a traditional way wearing a turban. Nikah is held on mostly the day of baraat. It is officiated by a muslim cleric known as Qazi in the local language. Mehr is the money amount which is decided before the wedding and is given as a gift to the bride by the groom.  Doodh pilai and joota chupai are the popular rituals of the Baraat day.  The ceremony ends with the rukhsati of the bride to her groom’s home.

Walima

Walima is held as the third day of the wedding. It is given as a feast by the groom’s family in honor of the bride.  Like the day of baraat, the bride is dressed in a traditional manner and so does the groom. Both the bride and the groom receive a lot of gifts from their relatives and friends.

Pakistani wedding is a joy not only for the newly weds but is also a auspicious occasion for everyone else. The functions are filled with laughing, singing and happiness.  Getting married in the Pakistani way is a memorable event combined with the blessings of the elders.