Fotiha
The Uzbek and Tajik betrothal in which the families read a blessing and agree the match.
Also: fatiha, fotiha to`yi, fatiha toi
Fotiha, from the Arabic fatiha, the opening chapter of the Quran, is the formal betrothal of Uzbek and Tajik families, in which the elders of the two sides read the prayer and bless the agreement, while the girl's family serves sweets and tea and the boy's family brings gifts. In some places it is called fotiha to'yi, the blessing party. It may be followed by the date of the nikoh toy, and the exchange of dowry items. The spelling varies, with fatiha used in Arabic and Turkish.
Region: Central Asia and the Caucasus