Marriage System in Sindh

Murk Chandio
By:

M.Sc (Sociology) Quaid-e-Azam University, Islamabad

OVER VIEW
Every society has its own traditions and norms. In SINDH, the wedding is pre-set or pre-fixed by the head of the family. It is like the girl fate is sealed at the moment she is born. Girls future husband is chosen by her father with his cousin or her close related relatives. It is simply like the agreement between brothers or relative others that if the baby boy will be born and others wife give birth to the girl they will be married both and opposite occur in the other case.

In SINDHI society, the DAAJ (jahaiz) does not have any priority or preferences in traditional sindhi marriages. Only the things are given that uses in daily life and some gold according to the economic conditions of brides family.

The following RASAMs are being performed during the wedding days: PADHRI: This is initial meeting between the both parties (bride & grooms families) That is called MAITEE JOON GALHYOON. Both parties announced their willingness for the marriage. MANGHNI (Engagement): This is proper and formal function in which boy and girl present their gifts and MANGHNI JI MUNDI (Engagement rings) to eachother.

WEDDING DATE FIXING: This is bilateral wish to fix the date of marriage and other functions before and after the marriage.
BUKKY & WANWAH: Bukky is function in which the different rituals (RASOOMAT) are being Performed: i. The grooms family and relatives visit brides home along with groom and gifts for bride. ii. They are taking Wheat seed from their own home to brides home. iii. Groom is being given a knife covered with red cloth and he is being asked to keep it tighten, if some body from grooms family would snatch it from him, the groom would not be considered as robust or strongman. iv. The bride would be given WANWAH (means to be covered with light shawl and no one will be allowed to see her except her own family members till the wedding time. During WANWAH, she use the OIL MIXED DOUGH/YEAST/UBTAN etc. to make her color more fair.

INVITATIONS:
Most of the invitations are being sent through the BARD which locally called MANGANHAR. As a messenger , the MANGANHAR is going to every house and invites on behalf of the family head of groom/bride explains the WEDDING DATE, TIME and VENUE. After BUKKI, the women gathered at grooms home every night till the wedding day. Every night they are singing traditional Sindhi wedding songs (SEHRA or LADDA). Some of these songs are followed: WANI ENDO WATHAN AJ DHOLNO.. LUDEY LUDEY THO ANBAN JE LAMAUN MANJH, LAGO WANIU JO WAAU JEHRY ACHI MANDAM TEHRY PAWLI

MEHNDI: This ritual is being celebrated a day before WEDDING. The grooms family and their invitees taking MEHNDI from their Home to brides home. Before going to brides home, the sisters and other relatives lay the MEHNDI on both hands of groom.

JANJU (BARRAT): Janju is purely Sindhi word which means wedding gathering. On wedding day, the groom and his family Along with relatives and invitees go for ceremony of NIKKAH. The MORH (SEHRA) is being tied to the grooms head and is placed on the motorcar. With the lamp lit for the household deity the grooms mother set forth for the marriage venue along with a musician band.

NIKKAH

Its an islamic ritual which is essential part of a wedding. After performing nikaah the groom is being taken to the brides room for other traditional rituals.
LAOON This ritual purely belongs to Sindhi Traditions in which the heads of both groom and bride are striken with each other by their parents, family friends and relatives. This tradition is being performed in a sense that they should have the equal mind set and understanding.

RUKHSATI: After performing of events the time arrives in which the parents of bride allows their daughter (bride) to go her real home.(grooms house)

Thank you very much for your Attention!!