The bride and the
groom are then blessed by the elders of the family and presented
with their trousseau. It is important to note that unlike the
‘Haldi’, this pre - matrimonial ceremony of blessing
is not held simultaneously in the respective houses. In the Punjabi
Sunni Muslim marriages, the ceremony of blessing is first conducted
in the house of the groom. While the bride is being adorned with
delicate designs of mehendi on her palms, her family goes to the
groom’s house to symbolically apply mehendi to the groom's
little finger. He is then showered with clothes, accessories and
gifts by the bride’s mother.
Just as in the pre - matrimonial ritual of the ‘Mangni’,
the groom's family reciprocates by arriving at the bride’s
home with clay pots containing uptan, mehendi and oil with lighted
lamps. A trousseau consisting of clothes footwear, accessories,
nightwear, undergarments, linen and toiletries is also brought
for the bride-to-be. The bride is now confined to her house and
not allowed to see the groom-to-be.
On the morning of the actual matrimonial alliance day, the Punjabi
Sunni Muslim groom dresses and visits the mosque with his procession
or baraat. Meanwhile the holy matrimonial contract known as the
‘Nikaahnaamah’ is taken to the bride’s house
to be read by the priest (maulvi) and the groom’s uncle
(gavaah). This document also makes mention of the mehr (bride’s
price), which was given earlier by mutual consent. The bride reads
the document and then signs it giving consent (quabool) to the
matrimonial alliance. This is then taken back to the mosque where
the groom is waiting anxiously. This matrimonial contract is then
read out loudly for all the men present, to hear. It is now the
turn of the groom to give quabool. The religious reading of the
'Agadh-e-Nikaah’ gives the matrimonial contract official
sanction.
The groom and his matrimonial procession leave for the bride’s
home where the bride’s male members receive them with love
and honour. The presence of the evil eye is than warded off, with
the groom waving some money around a black goat brought to him.
He is then taken to meet the woman who is now his wife. They are
now made to sit with each other.
Punjabi Sunni Muslims have a post - matrimonial ceremony known
as ‘Ruksati’. After the bride and groom are fed milk
from the same glass, the groom reads out the first page of the
Quran. The couple is now accepted officially as husband and wife
and members of both the family’s shower money and gifts
upon them.
The bride leaves for her matrimonial house where the ‘Mooh
Dikhai’ takes place. Here the groom’s womenfolk shower
gifts and money upon the bride to take a glimpse of her face.
The Punjabi Sunni Muslims also have the post - matrimonial ‘Valima’
or the wedding reception. Unlike the ‘Nikaah’ ceremony,
which is a small private affair, the ‘Valima’ is celebrated
in great vigour and splendour. The doors of a feast where lamb
and biryani is served in abundance are opened up to large numbers
of friends and relatives. The couple begins their new life knowing
that their elder’s blessings will see them through this
matrimonial life.
