Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Muslim Weddings in India


The Muslim population in Asia comprises of more than half the population of the world.  The continent is home to about 65% of Muslims living in various countries. The followers of Islam are found in every country, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Indonesia can easy be called Islamic nations. Indian and China also have good number of Muslim population. The regions of Gulf or Middle East have a good number, but majority of the Islamic followers reside in the Southeast Asia and South Asia.

Muslim Wedding in India
According to historians, the advent of Islam in Asia was around the 7th Century. The chief reason for the spread of the religion from the Arabian Peninsula was due to trade. Traders and exporters came to the northeastern part of India, in the state of Manipur arrived through silk route. For the same reason, traders reached China. Religious leaders also came along and preached about the religion. In the southernmost state of India, Kerala, the first mosque was built. The Muslim Matrimony in India follows the wedding customs and traditions of the Arabian people.

The Muslim matrimony functions in India are based on the Islamic principles as followed in the Arab region. The propaganda of these traditions was the medieval Muslim rulers.  The Mogul rulers and sultans helped in spreading the Islamic traditions. The Muslim wedding is called ‘nikaah’ and the wedding rules are the same for the shia and sunni groups of Muslims. In India, the Muslim matrimony function is usually a family affair with close friends and relatives attending the wedding. The wedding in India has numerous rituals and lasts for about three days. Like all Islamic weddings, there is the signing of the Nikaahnama in the Indian Muslim Matrimonial. Like all Indian weddings, there is singing and dancing in a Muslim matrimony. Both at the groom’s house and at the bride’s place, the rituals are conducted following the Islamic rules.

Thursday, December 22, 2011

The Vibrant Culture of Bengal


The beautiful state of Bengal lies in the eastern part of the plain of Ganges. The state is a melting pot of diverse cultures and traditions. The rule of Muslim rulers and later the British influence in the state culminated in birth of a unique culture. The culture of Bengal draws visitors from all parts of the globe. Many aspects contribute to the richness and variety of the distinctive culture.

Religion of Bengal plays an important role in defining the culture of state. Majority of the state has followers of Hindu religion. The Hindus here has their own birth, wedding and death rituals. Apart from the Hindus, there are followers of Islam and Christianity. Bengali Matrimony functions for the various religious communities differ. The Hindu Bengali Matrimony has rituals that run for several days.

Another important aspect that has shaped the distinct culture of Bengal is its literature. Bengalis have a love for literature and boasts of rich literary collection. Some of the greatest writers of all time belong from Bengal. Notable among them are Kazi Nazrul Islam, Michael Madhusudan Dutt, Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay and the nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore. There works are mostly in Bangla, the language of Bengal. Writers and authors are inspired from their work. Many of the modern writers have adapted their work in English language.

Food is another important part of the culture of Bengal. To eat the best of the regional delicacies in Bengal, people can attend any Bengali Matrimony and enjoy the sumptuous feast. Bengal’s staple food is rice and fish. Bengalis love their fish curry and other preparations made from it. Other tasty recipes from Bengal are the Aaloo Posto, Luchi, Kosha Manghso, Maacher Jhal and Sageer Chorchori. Sweets of Bengal are also famous, not just in India but in other countries as well. Most of the sweets are made from milk-based products.

Author: Shipra Sinha

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Popular Wedding Themes in Punjabi Matrimony


Everyone loves to have an unforgettable wedding. Undoubtedly, it is an occasion for which every family waits. It is really a proud moment to see one’s child dressed like a bride or a groom. In the Punjabi community, they believe in complete pomp and show, and do the best to make an immemorial one.

The general concept

Conducting a wedding in the Punjabi Matrimony is to book a party lawn, garden or an indoor hall. You can decorate it according to your choice, use generous amount of coloured tinsels, fabrics, and on top of that are flowers and lights, which add the beauty to any type of celebration. Now it’s the time to change and add some style quotient to the wedding. If you are going to get married, then try some new ideas, which are:

 Royal Marriages

If you have that bank balance which can afford conducting a royal Punjabi matrimony, then go for a royal one. The royal wedding are mostly celebrated in the castles of Jaipur, Jodhpur, Udaipur, and others, as such places offer the best ambience and feel, though very costly. The bride and groom are decorated like a king and a queen.

Beach marriages

It’s an exciting wedding style, where the bride and groom, throw a party at the beaches, accompanied by their parents, family members and friends. The beach side resorts serve as the best places for hosting such wedding, which make the arrangements for the wedding feast and accommodation. The best beachside marriage destinations are Goa, Kerala, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep, etc.

Cruise marriages

What an adventurous wedding that would be, which is celebrated on the cruises! Big dance floors, cold breeze, awesome food and music can make anyone die for such a wedding. No matter you are conducting your wedding on a cruise, you can conduct you own rituals of the Punjabi matrimonial and make it an immemorial day.

Author: Rashmi Karan

Friday, December 9, 2011

Importance of Chura in Punjabi Matrimony

Every bride dreams of looking her best at the time of wedding. The brides adorn themselves in the most elegant and unique manner with the usage of the wedding attire and accessories. Chura is one of the important Indian Wedding Accessories. There is a vital importance of Punjabi chura in the Punjabi matrimony. It is the sign of the marital status of a woman, and also signifies prosperity and fertility. I really love the way the newlywed Punjabi brides wear the chura in their hands. The red and maroon ivory bangles studded with stones look magnificent on the hands of the newlywed Punjabi brides.

Punjabi Chura
Every community has its belief, and in Punjabi Matrimony, the bride must wear the chura after the wedding the bride is allowed to remove the chura in the variables of three months, i.e. 3 months, 6 months, 9 months or 1 year. The chura is available in the market in various colours such as maroon, red, pink, white, etc. The chura with smooth edges are available in varied sizes and appealing patterns. The beautiful designs of the chura have also attracted non-Punjabi brides who also love to flaunt their marital status.

It is believed that a Chura can beautify the skin. During the rituals in Punjabi Matrimonial, the bride is given a bath and is then sat for the pooja. The family member of the bride makes her wear the chura, and the bride is not allowed to see those red and white ivory bangles. The family members tie a set of jingles over these bangles and bless her with their best wishes and blessings. The girls of the family who are eligible for marriage sit in rows and the bride lightly bangs the kaliren on their head. It is thought that the girls over whom the Kaliren fall is the next candidate to get married.

Author: Rashmi Karan