Originally posted by: KaShMaaneetSR
Heyy😊
I thinks our weddings are pretty much the same...Well in my family they go something like this...
We have an engagement
Mehndi (which is Sangeet combined most of the time)
Hen do (In western cultures I think)-Correct me if i'm wrong
Nikkah- (Actual ceremony)
and Walimah- Which is a celebration for the couples union
Depends on the families and place of origin. The basic Muslim requirement is Mangni, the Nikaah (which includes the Rukhsati ceremony) and then a Valima, a day later, which is effectively a wedding reception.
Only the Nikaah is 'Farz' (compulsory), and the rest are Sunnah (optional but considered acts of blessing).
In India, this has changed considerably as the Muslim culture amalgamated with the Hindu culture. In most Muslim countries, the bride tends to wear white but in the Sub-continent, brides opt for red on the day of the wedding, and white on the Valima.
In my experience, we tend to have a lot of functions:
Dholki: Pre-wedding celebrations, which tend to be held by the groom's and bride's side but with only those involved in the wedding on an immediate level (dancing, singing, organisation etc.).
Mayun/Ubtan: This is similar to a Haldi, except it tends to be segregated -- both sides can have one, and aside from their own family, only the immediate family of the other side is invited, and usually the ceremonies are reserved for the matriarch who bless the bride and groom.
Mehndi: Similar to the Sangeet, except I've generally witnessed it as an event that involves both sides attending, and there's a lot of singing and dancing, alongside the ceremonies.
Nikaah: This is a complicated one in my family: it can happen at the Mehndi, be a stand alone event, or on the actual wedding day.
Shaadi: This is the event before the Rukhsati (which is basically the Bidai) and once again both sides come together for the event.
Valima: An elaborate wedding reception.
Chauthi: This is celebrated on the fourth day of the marriage and is a smaller get-together, usually involving immediate family and a dinner.
Dussera: Similar to the Chauthi, except that it's celebrated on the 10th day of the marrige.