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EveryShaadi

Wedding traditions of South Asia

Saptapadi and the sacred fire, mehndi and haldi, baraat and nikah: the longest, loudest weddings anywhere. 119 traditions on EveryShaadi so far.

🇳🇵 NepalInter-caste marriage in Nepalअन्तरजातीय विवाह Marriage across caste lines in a society where such unions were once illegal and remain socially contested.Vow · Engagement and betrothal 🇧🇩 BangladeshPolygamy in Bangladesh The practice of men taking multiple wives, regulated by different laws for Muslims and Hindus.Gift custom · Engagement and betrothal

🇮🇳 Delhi, India and 2 moreKarva Chauthकरकचतुर्थी (Karakachaturthī) A Hindu festival where married women fast from sunrise to moonrise for their husband's health and life.Betrothal · The weeks before 🇦🇫 Kabul, AfghanistanPolygamy in Afghanistan The practice of Afghan men taking multiple wives under Islamic and civil law.Family role · Engagement and betrothal 🇮🇳 India and 1 moreSame-sex marriage in the British Indian Ocean Territory Legal recognition of same-sex unions for military personnel stationed on Diego Garcia since 2014.Modern · The ceremony 🇱🇰 Kandy, Sri LankaPolygamy in Sri Lanka The historical and current legal status of multiple marriages under Kandyan and Muslim law.Vow

🇮🇳 Saurath, India and 2 moreSaurath Sabha The annual Maithil Brahmin gathering in Bihar for arranged marriages based on lineage records.Betrothal · Finding a match 🇮🇳 Mysore, IndiaMysore Kalyanam A fraudulent marriage scheme targeting women from Kerala for dowry moneyGift custom · Engagement and betrothal 🇲🇻 MaldivesPolygamy in the Maldives The legal practice allowing men to marry multiple wives under strict financial conditions.Gift custom · Engagement and betrothal 🇱🇰 Kandy, Sri LankaKandyan marriage The traditional union rites of Sri Lanka's Buddhist Kandyan community, defined by residence and inheritance.Vow · Engagement and betrothal 🇮🇳 IndiaLohepfhe A black shawl with red and green bands worn by Angami and Chakhesang Naga men at weddings.Attire · The ceremony

🇮🇳 Ahmedabad, India and 1 moreGarba A circle dance from Gujarat performed around a sacred flame during the Navaratri festival.Performance · The weeks before

🇮🇳 Patiala, IndiaParanda A silk thread hair ornament worn by Punjabi women during weddings and festivals.Adornment · The weeks before 🇮🇳 India and 1 moreLuddi A circle dance of Punjab performed at weddings and celebrations by men and women.Performance · Reception, dance and gifts 🇵🇰 Peshawar, PakistanPeshawari chappal A traditional leather sandal with crossed straps, worn by men at Pakistani weddings.Attire

🇮🇳 Jaipur, IndiaGhoomarघूमर A twirling folk dance performed by women in Rajasthan to welcome a bride or celebrate auspicious occasions.Performance · The ceremony

🇮🇳 India and 2 moreNose jewelNath A nose piercing ornament that signals marital status and social standing in South Asia and beyond.Adornment · The weeks before

🇮🇳 Firozabad, India and 1 moreBangle A rigid circular bracelet worn by women in South Asia and beyond, often marking marital status or festive occasions.Adornment · The ceremony

🇮🇳 Amritsar, India and 1 moreJutti The embroidered leather slip-on shoe worn by Punjabi brides and grooms at weddingsAttire · The ceremony

🇮🇳 India and 5 morePolyandry A marriage structure where one woman is wed to multiple men simultaneously or in sequence.Betrothal · Engagement and betrothal

🇵🇰 Pakistan and 5 moreCousin marriage A union between people who share a grandparent or recent ancestor, practiced in many regions and communities.Vow · Finding a match

🇳🇵 NepalPanche bajaपञ्चे बाजा A set of five traditional instruments played at Hindu weddings in Nepal.Performance · Procession and arrival 🇮🇳 India and 3 moreInter-caste marriage A union between people of different castes, often contested in South Asia.Vow · Engagement and betrothal

Photo credits on this page

The small pictures above come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences. Some are cropped to fit.

Jutti: Daderot, CC0, source
Karva Chauth: Iamwiki001, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
Saurath Sabha: Saurath Sabha, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
Polyandry in India: Raja Ravi Varma, Public domain, source
Garba: anurag agnihotri, CC BY 2.0, source
Cousin marriage: 綾絲, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
Inter-caste marriage in Nepal: Sajan Pundit, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
Bangle: schwiki, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
Paranda: Biswarup Ganguly, CC BY 3.0, source
Nose jewel: Etan Doronne @ www.myindiaexperience.com, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
Panche baja: Janak Bhatta, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
Ghoomar: Aali Jain, CC BY-SA 4.0, source

The weekly EveryShaadi

Every week: one wedding tradition from somewhere new, the wedding days coming up around the world, and one idea explained.