For a traveler, attending an Uzbek wedding is a tremendous success since it allows them to witness the oldest customs and gain a complete understanding of the people who live in the eastern nation. The most significant occasion in every Uzbek's life is their wedding, which they lavishly celebrate and begin to plan for from the birth of a kid. Due to the large number of children in Uzbek households, they quickly start planning the next celebration after marrying the oldest son. We discuss the most fascinating customs and ceremonies associated with Uzbek marriages.
1. The engagement of Fatiha Tuy
Matchmaking is the first step in wedding preparation. Frequently, parents search for their children's future spouse, and if they manage to agree on everything, the engagement is celebrated (Fatiha Tui). It is celebrated in the bride's house, where tables are set and the closest relatives on both sides and the most respected neighbors are invited.
On this day, among the treats, there are a lot of sweets-sweets, halva, traditional pastries-and in Bukhara and Samarkand, the engagement is called shirin-khuri (literally “eating sweets”).
The groom's relatives give the bride expensive gifts, and during a table conversation, they discuss with future relatives the details of the upcoming wedding: place, time, number of guests, size of the dowry, and bride price. These concepts are still relevant in Uzbekistan today.
2. Morning pilaf - Nahor oshi
An Uzbek wedding, like other important events, cannot be imagined without the main national dish: “You were born; you have pilaf; you got married; you have pilaf; you died; you have pilaf,” the Uzbeks say. On the wedding day, it is prepared very early, at the end of morning prayer, that is, at 6-7 o’clock in the morning. The beginning of the holiday is announced to everyone by the loud sounds of karnais (long trumpets) and doiras (drums). Morning pilaf is prepared only by men, usually in the groom’s house; it is served on the table in huge dishes, and part of the food is sent to the bride’s house with congratulations.
Each region of Uzbekistan has its own recipe for wedding pilaf. For example, in Tashkent, chickpeas, raisins, whole heads of garlic, and a lot of spices are added to it: cumin, paprika, black pepper, cilantro seeds, and saffron.
3. Nikoh (wedding)
Registration at the registry office among Uzbeks is preceded by the religious rite of Nikoh; it is so important that without it, the marriage is considered invalid. Nikoh is held in the bride's house, where the bride waits for the groom, covering her face with a veil. The sacrament is attended only by the newlyweds, their parents, and the imam, a priest who explains to the newlyweds their rights and responsibilities and then reads the wedding prayer (khutbai nikoh) and declares them husband and wife.
Before the ceremony, the groom tastes honey and treats the bride, and then they look together in a new mirror, so that family life is sweet and serene.
4. Saying goodbye to parents
In some regions of Uzbekistan, a touching custom has been preserved: before leaving her home, the bride says goodbye to her parents. The girl bows to her father, asks permission to leave the family, and thanks him for everything. The father kisses her forehead and lets her go, blessing her. Then she turns to her mother with words of gratitude; they hug, and the mother sees off her daughter, who leaves the house, taking her dowry with her. Accompanied by her friends, she goes to the groom's house, crosses the threshold to festive songs, bows to the home, and is showered with sweets and coins, wishing her a happy life.
5. Nikoh Tuy
Nikoh Tui is the main part of the ceremony: a wedding feast, a magnificent feast with songs, dances, and competitions. The newlyweds are presented with gifts, and up to 500 people-relatives, friends, colleagues, and neighbors-gathered at the festive table.
Grandiose celebrations are associated with huge expenses, so in 2019, Uzbekistan even passed a law according to which a wedding should not last longer than a day and there should be no more than 200 guests. How strictly it is observed is a separate question.
6. Greeting of the dauther-in-law
One of the oldest Uzbek traditions is kelin salom (meeting the daughter-in-law). This ritual is carried out the morning after the wedding: getting up early, the young wife sweeps the yard, and then she meets guests who bring gifts-dishes, carpets, bedspreads, and other useful things. When accepting gifts, the daughter-in-law bows deeply to each guest, and only after all the congratulations does she reveal her face and become a full member of the family. The kelin salom tradition holds great significance in Uzbek culture as it symbolizes the daughter-in-law's acceptance into the family. It is a beautiful way to honor and welcome the new member while also showcasing the community's support and blessings for the newlyweds.
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