Pakistani Marriage

As Pakistan is a Muslim state so religion is dominant in every part of lives of Pakistanis whether it is a matter of trade, relationships, marriages or food. As far as marriage is concerned it is considered not a relationship between two persons but a social bond between two families. And when groom's family approves the girl as a bride then a series of ceremonies starts as engagement ceremony, ubtan, mehndi, wedding day, wallima and lastly muklava day (after valima). All these ceremonies are considered a part and parcel of the whole wedding process. First we take up engagement ceremony to be discussed. Groom's family along with its close relatives arrive at bride's house where they are welcomed warmly. Girl gets ready on parlour now a days as parlours are mostly visited by youth of Pakistanis. Then boy offers gold or diamond ring in front of all the guests. Then gifts are exchanged between each others on this occasion. Girl's dress and other accessories are from boy's side. Then both the parties fix a suitable date for marriage. Before marriage, the ubtan day comes, on this day the young girls wear yellow colour dresses, and the bride's dress is also in yellow colour. According to the occasion boys also wear yellow colour mufflers around their neck to be a part of ceremony. Both the parties join on the occasion wearing beautiful dresses. Young girls sing wedding songs and present ludi, on the other hand the boys present bhangra which is performed on the music of dhol. The bride is being sat on the chair and the married ladies of both sides come one by one to apply ubtan on her and offer her sweet. They also give veil of bride. It is a specific amount of money which they give to poor after presenting to couple on their heads. In this way both the bride and groom are saved from ill, evils and bad eyes which can harm them or their blissful life. After this ceremony both the bride and groom are confined to their specific rooms for one or two week. They use ubtan on their whole body to make themselves more beautiful.