Muslim Wedding

Islam in India:Islam is the second largest religion in the country after Hinduism.Nearly 14.2% countries population are adherents of Islam as per 2011 Census.Islam first came to western coast of the India in Kerala,when Arab traders as early as seventh century CE came to coastal Malabar in Kerala.And as well as Konkan and Gujarat.Over the centuries,there has been significant integration of Hindu and Muslim cultures across India.Wedding is the Integral part of the Islamic Culture and are mandated by the Holy Quran as one of the primary duties of a Muslim.Lets take a look at the Various Rituals of a Muslim Wedding.

Pre Wedding Ritual's

Salatul Ishtikara: Arranged marriages are prevalent in Muslim community.Love marriage prefers very low.Matches are sought with in the same religious sect and communities.Once a Match has been Finalised by the families who deem each other Compatible,The religious head or the Imam of the nearest Mosque performs special prayers and seek the Almighty's Blessings and Consent.This marks the official announcement of the Marriage.The would-be bride and the groom also attends the prayers and ask for the guidance to the Allah through Prayers.

Imam-E-Zamin: Following the Ishtikara,The groom's mother on the auspicious day,visits the brides home carrying sweets and some other gifts. She also carries a Red color silk scarf which she ties around her future Daughter in laws Right arm.The Ritual Signifies the formal acceptance of the bride into her family.

Couple wearing an Imam Zamin.

Manghni: Manghni marks the official engagement ceremony between the bride and the groom and there families.Friends and relatives from the both sides attends the event.Where the both bride and the groom exchanges their ring.Each family showers the other with gifts,sweets, dry fruits and some cash.This ceremony officially seals the intention of marriage between the two families and the bride and the groom are considered betrothed to each other in the eyes of the society.

Manjha & Mehendi:This is one of the adopted ritual with in the muslim wedding practices in India. A day or two day before the actual Nikha ceremony,The bride is dressed with yellow finery.A paste made of turmeric,Sandalwood and rose water applied to the bride's face, hand and the feet.After the application of the turmeric paste is complete.The bride goes on to take a bath. After her Manjha,The bride not supposed to leave the house till her wedding day.The same event observed at the grooms house as well.Mehendi is the ceremony which is observed by only the ladies.A lady centric function where the only women participates.The most artistic lady in the family is entrusted with task of applying the henna paste in unique.Now a days Mehendi artists are Hiring from the outside who are professionals.Other female members of the family also get painted their hands with henna.

Mehendi on Bride's hands.

Sanchaq or Shukrana:During this pre wedding ritual,Members of the grooms family visits the brides place bearing gifts for her and future in laws.Along with this gifts sweets, fruits etc.The bridal outfit to be worn at the time of nikha are also sent.Other accessories are also sent.Some families even  send over perfumes,cosmetics and toiletries for the bride.

Wedding Day Ritual's

Baarath:The groom  head towards the Wedding Venue with great pomp and show accompanied by the host of his relatives and close friends.A beautifully decorated car generally sent by the bride's family to bring the groom.The relatives of the groom follows the car and the whole wedding party heading towards the wedding venue is known as the baarath.And then welcoming the groom into the wedding venue with spraying the perfumes and the rose water on the groom as he enters the wedding venue.

NIKHA:The Nikha or wedding are officiated by a religious priest or Maulvi.The men and women are seated in separate groups for the Ceremony.Here the women takes their around bride and men near the groom.The grooms family presents the bride with mehr which is pre-decided amount of cash to seek her consent for marrying the groom.The maulvi starts the Nikha proceeding by first saying a prayer from the holy quran,Next he asks the bride, if she consenting to marry the groom  by accepting the quran.This is where he asks the bride the phrase 'Qubool Hai'? which means do you give ur consent(Three times in a row).with assertive and affirmative tone three times.And then the maulvi moves to the groom and repeats the same procedure.This ritual is known as Ijab-e-qubool.After completion of this Ritual the bride and the groom do not see each other faces and then julwa(in some south indian mostly in AP)starts and then Bidaai.

A bride accepting the mehr and signing.

Rukshat:Soon after wedding is concluded,The bride bids tearful goodbye to her family and sets of her husbands house,When she arrives at a husbands house,She extended a warm welcome by her Mother-in-Law.As a gesture of welcome and as well as reminder her duties,The holy quran placed on her head.

Walimah/Reception:Walima ceremony marks the public declaration of the marriage.It is a grand reception party arranged by the grooms family.Here,the bride and the groom generally seated on a throne atop a stage,where they meet and greet all the members from both side of the families.The event includes a grand feast of traditional muslim delicacies like Biryani,rumali roti,meat korma etc.

A muslim wedding reception

Chauthi&Jumagi:This ceremony involves the bride visiting her parent's home on fourth day of the wedding accompanied by her new husband.Her parents treat the newlywed couple with a lavish lunch and give them various gifts.The chauthi concludes all the events of a typical muslim wedding.Jumagi is an another ritual usually follows on Fridays(Jumma) continuously. The ritual is completed after fifth friday.In this ritual the families from both the brides and the grooms family and relatives invites the new couple and makes a jumagi with gifts and delicious foods.