WEDDINGS OF INDIA – KASHMIRI WEDDING
INDIAN WEDDING – KASHMIRI WEDDINGS
Kashmiri Weddings are as beautiful as the snowy Kashmiri valleys. The Kashmiri Weddings have their own charm and beauty. The first ritual of a Kashmiri Wedding is the “Vanna” or engagement ceremony. The elders of both the families meet in a temple and exchange flowers to formalize the wedding alliance. Next is the Livun ritual, wherein the entire houses of both the bride and groom are cleaned. Just few days before the marriage, the Wanwun ritual is held, which is the musical session held at the house of the boy and the girl. This is followed by the Maanziraat ceremony, which begins with krool khanun.
It is the ritual in which the door of the houses of bride and groom are decorated. This is followed by the ceremonial bathing of the bride, in the beginning of which the maternal uncle of the bride washes her feet. Just two three days before wedding, the bride’s family sends 51 thaals to the groom’s house, which contains sweets, dru fruits, ghee, sugar and gota. Around two days before wedding, the groom’s family sends flower jewelry and tinsel for the bride, which serves as her first adornment.
Just one day before marriage, Mehndi is applied to bride’s hands and feet. On the wedding day morning, Diugun is performed, wherein the bride and the groom are applied a paste of curd, gram flour and saffron, followed by a bath. The bride’s parents also give her dijaru, an ear ornament, which is the sign of a marriage. The next ritual is Sanzvaru, in which the groom’s family sends cosmetics, mirror, sindoor and a betel leaf covered with gold or silver foil. After this the Duribat ritual takes place, in which the bride and the groom worship Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati in their houses.