A Traditional Desi Wedding

Desi Pakistani weddings are filled with joy and celebrations.  It is full of traditions and rituals. The desi people of Pakistan become excited before a month or two from the actual date of wedding ceremony. Everyone decides their outfits for each of the wedding functions as a Pakistani wedding is comprised of many traditions.

Before Indo-Pak partition, Muslims and Hindus lived together. Similarly, they shared same Traditions. In a desi Pakistani wedding, some pre-wedding traditions are same as Indian traditions. Islamic traditions have their importance in a desi wedding along with cultural traditions. 

Engagement

Engagement means MANGNI in Urdu language. On this day, only close friends and family members are invited. In this pre-wedding traditional ceremony, the Bride-to-be and the groom-to-be exchange rings and, get prayers from all the elder members of their families. This ceremony can be small or large, depends on the number of guests invited in it.

Dholki

Dholki is the most entertaining pre-wedding tradition of a desi wedding in Pakistan. Some close friends and family members beat the drum and sing songs at Bride’s or Groom’s home to celebrate this ritual. Mostly, the bride and groom wear traditional yellow or white clothes in it and, without Dholkis desi weddings are incomplete. 

Mayun

In a desi wedding, Mayun is an excuse of get together to celebrate the wedding. It’s a traditional function in which female takes part in dancing and singing. Groom’s family brings the paste of herbs, turmeric and oils for the bride for her beautification before wedding. After Mayun, Groom and bride are not allowed to meet. Bride wears Gana and, she cannot leave her house after this traditional function.

Nikkah

Nikkah is the most important part of a Pakistani Desi wedding because it is a part of Islam. In this ceremony, Qazi recite verses of Holy Quran and, the fathers of bride and groom becomes witness to the nikkah and decides Haq Meher. After that, the bride and groom sign the Nikkah Nama and say Qubool Hai for three times. It is considered as an eternal commitment between the couple. Groom’s family distributes Bidh to the guests and relatives after nikkah.

Rasm-e-Henna

Rasm-e-Henna (Mehendi) is another tradition which is considered as a biggest event of the desi wedding. On this night, the Cone Mehendi is applied to the bride’s hand and feet. Guests enjoy this night because, it contains dances.

The leaf is placed on bride’s and groom’s hand where the guests apply some mehendi. They have to eat many sweets on this night. Most of the times, bride and groom celebrate mehendi night together.

Barat

Barat is the official ceremony in desi weddings arranged by the bride’s family. It is the most emotional night for the bride and her family. The groom comes with his family and friends to take bride with him. The bride’s family throws rose petals on the groom and his family and give them garlands. 

In desi weddings, bride mostly wears Red Lehenga with heavy makeover and Jura Hair style. Groom wears Sherwaani and Sehra. Desi Food is served to all the guests in the wedding.

Walima

In desi weddings, it the last traditional reception hosted by the groom’s family to give a feast to bride’s family and other relatives. It is also important due to Islamic point of view. The dress of the bride is selected by groom’s family for this night. 

During Walima, Bride and groom chat with the guests and relatives and enjoy the last official function of their desi wedding.

Chauthi

This tradition is a part of desi Pakistani wedding which is also a part of Hindu culture. The bride leaves to her parent’s home on walima night and, in laws brings her back on the next day which is called Chauthi or Makhlawa. The dinner or lunch is served to the groom’s family.

After Chauthi, relative and friends arrange Dawats/dinners in the honor of bride and groom due to which they feel special. 

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