Muslim weddings are always conducted by strictly following all the rules mentioned in the Islamic scriptures. Numerous Muslims live all over India and they always preserve their religious traditions in their marriages. New couples of the modern generation need to know all about the specific details of a Muslim wedding.
How long are Indian Muslim weddings?
The main ritual of a Muslim wedding called Nikah is a brief procedure, conducted by the Muslim priest called Qazi, who read some verses from the Holy Quran. Then the bride and groom officially accept the marriage and this ritual is termed Ijab-e-Qubul. Lastly, they sign the marriage contract called Nikahnama after the groom presents a financial gift called Meher to his wife.
How to Plan a Nikah Ceremony
The families of a Muslim couple meet months ago to decide the wedding date after consulting with their Qazi, who will be conducting the marriage. An experienced wedding planner can be hired to plan the wedding or Nikah or a Muslim couple. Then the wedding venue is to be decided and booked in advance. The purchase of wedding attires and jewelry of the bride and groom is another important aspect of the wedding preparation. The wedding venue décor, lighting, and arrangements for welcoming wedding guests should also be planned before the wedding.
Islamic Wedding Invitations
All the relatives and friends of the new couple should be invited by sending them wedding cards, which should be designed in a characteristic Muslim style. Now, people can buy Islamic wedding invitations online that fit their tastes and budget. Reputed wedding card makers create beautiful wedding invitations for their Muslim customers, with perfect Islamic designs and wordings.
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Do men and women sit separately?
Earlier, there used to be separate seating arrangements for male and female wedding guests in conservative Muslim families. Men and women also sit separately during the wedding ceremony, as the strict Islamic rules. However, some modern couples now prefer to arrange seats for all wedding guests together, irrespective of their gender.
So Much Food
A grand wedding feast is arranged just after the Nikah or the wedding ceremony. It should ideally contain several Muslim dishes, like Biriyani, kebabs, phirni, and halwa. A local caterer with a good reputation should be hired for this purpose, who has prior experience in serving food at a Muslim wedding. The number of plates should be ordered according to the estimated number of guests attending the wedding.
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Designer Outfits and accessories
Ideally, a Muslim bride wears a vibrant-colored bridal suit with a matching dupatta. She may wear a lehenga and a long choli, kurti or kameez with Sharara, all heavily embroidered and adorned with sequences. She covers her head with a matching dupatta or hijab with similar embellishments. The bride wears a lot of gold and stone-setting jewelry to match her bridal outfit. The groom wears gorgeous Sherwani and churidar, or Kurta pajama with an embroidered jacket over it. He also wears a slender neckpiece, a bracelet, and a few rings on his fingers. He covers his head with a turban of the same color as his wedding attire, along with embellished Kolhapuri or Nagrai footwear.
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Muslim Wedding Customs & Traditions
Manjha is a pre-wedding ceremony where the bride is smeared with turmeric paste to make her skin glow. Mehendi is another pre-wedding ritual for the bride when her hands and feet are decorated with beautiful designs of henna paste. The Qazi presiding over the wedding ceremony read out the marriage contract, after which both families of the bride and groom sign it. The presentation of Meher or dowry by the groom to his bride is mentioned in this contract. Then the bride and groom can see each other through mirrors before the wedding dinner. The post-wedding reception called Walima is held by the groom’s family, to strengthen the bond of love between the two families.
All these are the characteristics of a typical Islamic wedding in India, which are maintained by all Muslims.