Culture, Lahore

DAY 4...MEHNDI
The most famous ceremony is the Mehndi. Till now only the close friends & relatives had been invited but this event draws audiences from door-par relatives to the Khan's from the next street. Nobody wishes to miss the function. Traditionally it used to be an other ladies-only event but not any more. Nowadays Mehndis are celebrated in outdoors with huge tents erected for the occasion. The main purpose of the event is to colour the Bride's hands& feets with heena- Mehndi. Now this makes up a small part of the main event.. Groom side brings Traditional folk drummers & friends dance called Bhangra. The girls bring large plates filled with heena & candles & perform a luddi whereby they dance in a circle around the big trays..
DAY 5...BARAT-NIKKAH-RUKHSATI..
. A small ceremony Sehra Bandi is performed before departing. Traditionally the Barat- Groom procession to Bride,s home or the hotel nowadays, used to comprise of men-only Nowadays women go with their men too. The Dulha(Groom) wears a sparkling Sehra, a headgear to cover his face. On arrival a small ceremony called Milni is performed when two elders from both sides embrace & exchange gifts. Some items brought with Barat include the Barri which are clothes & gifts from the Groom family to the Bride's family., & the bidd which comprises of dates, nuts & sweets for the guests distributed after the Nikkah ceremony. After Nikkah the Bride is brought to sit with the Groom on the stage. She is traditionally clad in a crimson-red outfit & loads of gold jewellery. Numerous ceremonies are performed at this stage including a gift of watch or ring from the bride's father to the Groom. A long family photograph session then begin. Other ceremonies include Dudh Palai & Juta chuppai...then comes the time of Rukhsati. Its time for the Bride to go to his husbads house & start a new life....
DAY 6....VALIMA..
An invitation from the Groom for the friends & relatives is called Valima. This day a big feast is held with every kind of Traditional dish from the menu...

There are usually four seasons in a year but not in Pakistan. Additional ones include the flood season, The election season & all time favourite wedding season. Here is an account of a traditional Lahori wedding in Pakistan......

DAY 1......QURAN KAWANI & KHATAM
This marks the beggining of all wedding ceremonies & traditionaly the only all-male event that take place although most people organise the event for the ladies too. The holy Quran is recited in the house & prayers said for the bride & trhe groom...

DAY 2...DHOLKI...
For the girls in the house this is the real begginig of shaddi(n urdu word for wedding.Brides friends taking control of the function. Dholki infact is a small drum that is played on weddindgs. The sound of dholki announces the celebration. All the girls gather around the dholki & sing traditional songs. Nowadays playing & singing to the dholki beat is losing significance as big sound sytems make much more louder noise & girls dance to the beat. For some it is a good practice sessoinfor the big event...Mehndi

DAY 3...MAYUN
This event formally marks the beginning of the wedding. By this day, all the near relatives have arrived & the big lineup of ceremonies begin on this night usually in the house countryard or lawn...

what happens next plz visit part 2

But it must be remembered again that Pakistan is a Muslim nation, and mixing of different genders is not accepted unless they are of the same family. This is true in Lahore, and especially true in the old city where customs are more old-fashioned. Similarily, one should never wear shoes into a Mosque or any religious building.