| Muslims are an important part of the Indian | | | | considered as the bride's home until marriage. |
| tradition; they are the ones who fill the colours of | | | | The uptan is applied almost every day till the |
| joy and happiness in the Indian culture with their | | | | marriage to the bride by one of the middle aged |
| rich customs and traditional values. Though are | | | | women of the family. The same ceremony is also |
| supposed to be growing modern, but still some | | | | witnessed at the groom's house, where he is |
| sects of the Muslim religion are there, who follow | | | | applied with uptan, by his mother and sisters. |
| the orthodox traditions of the Muslim culture, one | | | | Mehandi: a day before the marriage, the Sunni |
| of which is Sunni's. Sunni's are defined as the | | | | bride is applied with heena paste on her palms by |
| orthodox Muslims, who took birth before the | | | | seven married women of the family. The mehandi |
| Shia's. | | | | is sent by the groom's mother along with fruits |
| The marriage rituals in the Sunni's start days | | | | and sweets. Same ceremony is also observed in |
| before the actual nikaah, the ceremonies are very | | | | the groom's house. |
| traditional and full of rituals. The dresses of the | | | | Sehrabandi: It is a ceremony where the groom is |
| Sunni bride and groom are very beautiful and | | | | tied with a string of golden threads or flowers on |
| define their cultural values and believe. Starting | | | | his turban, after which he leaves for the bride's |
| from the formal engagement of the couple to | | | | house for the wedding ceremony or nikaah, |
| their marriage, following are some of the rituals | | | | accompanied by a number of his men friends and |
| celebrated in a Sunni marriage: | | | | relatives called baratis. A band of musicians lead |
| Nizbat: It is the formal announcement for the | | | | the baraat, playing all the popular songs of the |
| engagement of the couple. The groom's family | | | | season with the family members dancing with the |
| fully loaded with gifts and sweets visits the bride's | | | | tune. |
| house, where close relatives and friends are | | | | Nikaah: The matrimony ceremony in Muslims is |
| invited to attend the ceremony, the alliance of the | | | | called Nikaah, and a mutual agreement is signed |
| couple is then announced to the society. The | | | | called the nikahnama. After the baraat reaches |
| groom is not present in this ceremony. The | | | | the wedding venue, the bride's family welcomes |
| groom's family is served with snacks and sweets, | | | | the guess with great respect. A qazi, or the vakil, |
| after which the date for the marriage is decided. | | | | is made to read the nikahnama loudly to both the |
| Mangni: It is the engagement of the bride and the | | | | bride and the groom, which after their acceptation |
| groom, in which the groom along with his family | | | | by saying Qubool hai, is signed by them. Sunnat, |
| and friends goes to the house of the bride and | | | | the announcement of the marriage is done |
| the bride is gifted with clothes, jewellery and | | | | immediately after the acceptation, post which the |
| sweets by her future mother- in- law and formal | | | | dry fruits or sweets are distributed. |
| meeting of the bride with the groom is made in | | | | Aarsi Mussahaf: After the Nikaah ceremony, the |
| front of the society. | | | | mother and sisters of the groom sees the bride |
| Milaad Sharif: Its is also called thanksgiving | | | | as a part of muh- dikhayi and gifts her cloth and |
| ceremony, where the ladies of both the houses | | | | jewellery, which are weared by the bride and she |
| come together as a part of religious gathering and | | | | comes out with the attire, marking the sanctity |
| spirituals books and prayers are read in taranum. | | | | of a newly wed- bride, with her face fully |
| This ceremony is done in Sunni's to thank god for | | | | covered with the dupatta. Now the newly wed |
| granting the auspicious occasion of wedding. | | | | sunni couple is made to sit together and the |
| Mayun and Uptan: the ritual is performed 8- 15 | | | | groom wears an 'aarsi' on his thumb, which he |
| days before the actual wedding ceremony. In this | | | | positions in a way, that he can see his wife's face |
| the would- be Sunni bride is made to go under | | | | in it. Gifts and sweets are presented to the |
| mayun, i.e. in a seclusion state in which her few | | | | groom by the bride's family, following which a |
| actions are restricted till the day of marriage, the | | | | huge meal is served to the guests. |
| bride's mother do some ritual to protect her from | | | | After the wedding ceremony and the feast the |
| the evil's eye, after which she applies her with | | | | bride is made to leave her maternal house as a |
| uptan, a mixture of turmeric powder, sandalwood | | | | part of the vidai ceremony, which is the most |
| power and aromatic oils. This is to beautify the | | | | emotional moment for the bride as she leaves |
| girl's looks and to add glow on her face for her D- | | | | her childhood house with all the precious memories |
| day of life. A yellow cloth is also spread across | | | | and heads towards her husband's house in a new |
| her room, the area under which has to be | | | | life with a new beginning. |