Colourful decoration, sumptuous food and vibrant atmosphere characterize any Muslim Matrimony. I was attending the ‘Nikah’ ceremony for my dear friend. He is a Sunni Muslim from the state of Uttar Pradesh in India. Though the wedding celebrations for the Muslims in India start usually three days before the actual wedding day, I only attended on the day of marriage. The welcoming of guests with sprinkling of ‘ittar’ on the male members is a practice I enjoyed. Moreover, the flower decoration in the wedding venue was making the atmosphere fragrant.
The bride was seated inside a room and her head was covered with a veil. She was wearing a traditional lehenga in green with delicate zardozi work all over. Even her veil had delicate work with golden threads. Only the female invitees can go inside the room where the bride was seated. The gold jewelry that she wore with her bridal attire made her look like a princess.
My friend, the groom was wearing a beige sherwani with golden work. He also covered his head with a traditional Muslim thread cap. He was attending the guests who were invited at the Muslim matrimony. There is no wedding auspicious time as it happens in a Muslim Matrimony. On the arrival of the Qazi or the priest, the wedding started.
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| Nikahnama |
Though there are many rituals in a Muslim matrimony, the main ritual is the Nikah ceremony. The Maulvi or the Qazi presides over the entire Nikah ceremony. The bride arrives in the room where the groom is seated. They sit face to face with a curtain dividing the male group from the female group at the wedding. Both the groom and the bride sign the Nikahnama, which is the contract of marriage. The father of the bride and the groom also sign the contract as witnesses to the wedding. In presence of family members and guests, the Qazi recites some holy lines from the Quran.
What I really liked in the Muslim Matrimony is the consent of the Muslim Brides. In Muslims, the groom gives the dowry or ‘mehr’ to the bride. I also enjoyed the traditional food after completion of the Nikah ceremony.
Author: Shipra Sinha
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