Kashmiri Wedding Rituals

Full of traditional and joyful ceremonies, the sacred nuptial customs in Kashmir provide a time of family union for the people. The occasion consists of a list of ceremonies that are performed with full enthusiasm and excitement. The bride and the groom are dressed up by the close friends and relatives. The groom's uncle helps him in draping the gordastar i.e. the turban. Before leaving for the bride's place, he is made to stand on the vyog i.e. a pattern made out of the rice flour. The whole ceremony generally takes place at the house of the bride thus adhering to the facts of this marriage tradition.

The procession starts after the reception. When the groom reaches the doorsteps of the bride's house, they are welcomed by the close friends as well as the relatives. The eldest member of the family offers nabad to the couple and there after they are taken to the door of the house where the 'dwar puja' ceremony takes place. They are then taken to the lagan mandap which is the place of the actual event. At the mandap, the purohit conducts the ceremony around the sacred fire.

One of the important customs performed during the ceremony is the aathwas during which the bride and the groom are asked to cross their arms and hole each other arms. As per the traditions, the one who takes out the engagement ring first rules the household. After placing their right foots on a kajwat they are made to take the seven pheras stepping upon seven one rupee coins.

Reaching the end of the ceremony, the couple feed some rice to each other. After the completion of the occasion, the couple is taken to vyog where the elder members of the family come forward and offer nabad to the couple three times. The bride is seated in the doli as the relatives and the close friends wish her for the new life that she will spend with her partner.

Such auspicious customs are full of music and dance programmes. The ladies organize a ceremony called Wanvun that is celebrated through out the night. Some of the families would even invite traditional singers who are knows as Bachkots. The guests are served with an array of elegant cuisines like Dumaalu, Nadrooyakhni and Chock Wangun.