Khastegari
The Persian and Afghan formal visit in which the groom's family asks for the bride.
Also: khastgari, khastegari, khastgar
Khastegari, meaning asking, is the first formal step in a Persian or Afghan match, in which the groom and his family, bringing flowers and sweets, visit the bride's parents. The bride serves tea, and the two sides speak politely and indirectly about the match. If the answer is yes, a later meeting settles the terms. In Afghanistan the term is khastgari. A modern Iranian couple may also have the visit simply as a formality, after the pair have already decided.
Region: Middle East