Last month, a team of six staff from the Civic Initiative (a business group of the University of Massachusetts Amherst Donahue Institute) were in Islamabad. They held a three-day follow-up conference for alumni from recent cohorts of the Study of the U.S. Institutes Comparative Public Policymaking program that has been held annually by the Civic Initiative since 2010. The SUSI program is funded by the US Department of State Education and Cultural Affairs Office.
You are here
Wedding Music
Pakistani Wedding Ceremonies: Weddings (shadi) in Pakistan are planned and prepared for months in advance, and celebrated for multiple days. While there are many religious, regional, and family variations there are few commonly observed practices including the Mehendi, Nikka, and Valima celebrations.
Mehendi: Mehendi simply means henna, an herb which applied to the bride and groom's hands give a pleasant orange-brown color. This ceremony often takes place the night before the wedding. Often in Pakistan the mehendi is placed on the bride's hand by married women of the family.
Nikka: The actual marriage takes place on the day of the Nikka, or official signing of paperwork with a maulvi or imam (Islamic religious leader). The bride and groom are both dressed in special clothing, as well as their family members. The Nikka signifies that the couple are married, and the bride traditionally leaves her home at this time.
Valima: The Valima is a reception which often takes place the day after the Nikka ceremony. The groom's side of the family invites family and friends to celebrate the marriage.