Barat (Day 2)

So on the second day she was looking very pretty. On barat, Traditionally the groom, dressed in his wedding attire, is seated on a white decorated mare, when he heads towards the wedding venue along with the baraati. Before sitting on the mare, the groom is adorned with a saafa (turban, preferably pink or saffron colored) along with a sehara (floral veil), which is tied around his forehead, by his mother. Saafa is mandatory, but tying sehara is not a compulsion. In the mare, the groom is accompanied by his nephew who acts as his caregiver, who is called 'sarbaala'.

The baraatis are often accompanied by music band, which provides them with entertainment, while on their way to the venue. The baraatis dance to the tune played by the band. A vivid display of fireworks contributes to the festive spirit of the marriage procession. After reaching the wedding venue, the groom and the marriage procession are welcomed by the bride's parents and the elder members of her family. The bride's sister stops the groom with some dopata or stick decorated with flower to enter in the hall and ask for some money and let the groom enters the venue. In the mean time, the other members of the bride's family welcome others in the marriage procession. The barati who comes in the procession are garlanded and seated.

Then there is nikkah ceremoney in which there are some certain conditions. When these conditions are fulfilled, then a man and a woman are proclaimed as husband and wife and can live together and carry on their marital duties. During Nikah Bride and groom giving free consent to the in clear voice three times that they accept (name of the person and his/her father name is called) as their husband/wife. Then bride and groom?s parent decide the amount of )haq-e-mehar (similar to the biblical mohar) and paid to the bride at the spot or paid in the near future. Haq-e-Mahr is money given to the bride from the groom as a form of insurance should unfortunate circumstances arise. The nikkah is witness by two adult free muslim men. After the nikkah some sweets and dry fruits are distributed with prayers to sweeten the life of newlywed couple.

On barat day the most exciting custom is dodh pilaye (drinking milk) in which brides?s sister bring a glass of milk with added sugar or some flavor and ask for some fix amount of money and groom and his friend tease the ladies by putting coins in gal?s plate so the argument is real fun, the money is then distributed equally in all female cousins of bride. And then Cold drinks, snacks and sweets are served to guests. In most of the cases, all the expenses of the barat reception, marriage ceremony and the dinner are born by bride's parents in most of the cases.




EDIT: My family doesn't trust their talented child hahahah
But thank you God they let me play with my little toy, so at the end if i capture good shoots they will get those and print and if somehow they are not up to mark at-least then there will be no regret by not calling some professional :(
But the interesting thing is, today professional prints were not available as its too early so i plugged my camera to wide flat screen every one *liked* & today there were many Aunties with bachay, behoon, betiyan (aunties with their daughters and daughter-in-laws) was in line calling "Maryam" "Maryam"
so it worth it :D

Full introduction




P.S: Bride & Groom paste this printed picture (btw their first wedding picture in printed form) in their room's wall.