Afghan wedding

Afghan weddings are unique and modern, special only to people of Afghanistan. The history of modern Afghan wedding can be traced back to the wedding ceremony of King Amanullah Khan and Queen Soraya Tarzi. To welcome guests entering the door, a line of women stand on the right and a line of men on the left. The bride and groom's families will greet and escort the guests to the tables. Guests in an Afghan wedding are dressed with highly expensive clothes and jewelries, as they show their best appearance at a wedding. The guests gather around their loved ones and talk AbOUT their lives. When all guests have arrived or when the room is half filled the musician starts playing the traditional music, hits etc. At the front/corner of the stage two very decorative chairs are set for bride and groom. In front of the chairs there is a table with highly decorative ensembles including beautiful candles and beautiful flowers. A traditional Afghan wedding usually begins around 6:00 pm in the evening and ends as long as the hall agreement allows them, usually 11 pm. In the middle of the wedding, around 8:30 pm, a special song is sangs called Ahesta Boro, meaning walk slowly, which commemorates the arrival of the bride and groom, while the song is played like other westerners, everyone begins to stand up and smiles until the groom and bride are set in their place. It's a common tradition among Afghans that like majesty Amanullah Khan, and Queen Soraya Tarzi, the bride and groom are respected as King and Queen of the night. This allowance was also given in the wedding of Aminuallh's cousin whom he placed down his sword, and kneed to the ground and said to the bride and groom, that their wedding night is truly respected, they can make any command as a king/Queen of the night.

Nikah

Also spelled as Nikah, after the Ahesta Boro is done the Bride and Groom are covered under a very decorated shawl where in the past the groom will look at his Brides face in a mirror and will read a prayer from the Holy Quran, this is known as "Aina mosaf". In the decades past this would have been the first time ever that the bride and groom would have seen each others face due to arranged marriages. The shawl is lifted and the bride and groom feed each other “Maaleda” also spelled "Malida" (an Afghan dessert) and beverage as the guests applaud. The actual Religious ceremony where the Spiritual Mullah and the witness, the bride and grooms family agree upon the premarital contract occurs behind the scene either before dinner or after dinner. The next song that follows is “Hena Beyarin bar Dastash gozarain” "Kheena by Afghans, a dark-red colored dye which leave a Orange Red stain on the skin) and place on their hand.

Hennah

Also spelled as Henna, historically the bride and grooms palms were cut in little insertion so that they could be joined in blood, as time passed they replaced it with Hena so it would be more healthy and lest messy. At this moment a girl dressed in traditional Afghani clothes will come though the door with a silver tray with candles and assorts of beautiful fresh flowers with little containers of henna dancing and turning all the way to the throne of bride and groom. The Mother of the groom will place a teaspoon full of Henna onto the Bride's palm and cover it with a triangular cloth made of very fine and shiny fabric. The Brides mother places the Henna on the pinkie figure of the groom and likewise covers it with the fabric.

Meal

After hours of dancing they will announce that dinner is ready, all the guests will form a line and walk alongside a beautifully decorated buffet where assorted authentic Afghan meals are presented. From the Shohla e Goshtee to three different values of rice Called Palou and Chalou, there are many kinds of Kabobs; Kabob e Chopan, Chaplee Kabob, Teka Kabob, Shaami Kabob, also Mantu Aushak with authentic Afghan Bread will conclude the dinner table. For dessert they will serve Firnee, Sheer Brenj, Jello, Baghalua with fruits of the season. After Dessert is finished The Bride and groom will walk over to the 3 store cake and the musician will return from dinner and sing the traditional song of “Baada Baada Elahee Mubarak Baada - Man dil ba tu dada am Tawakol ba khoda” Meaning Congratulations I gave you my heart now I leave it to GOD as the bride and groom cut the cake and the member of the family will cut the cake into small pieces and serve the guests.

Attan

Then comes the hours of enjoyment as the musicians plays fast beat songs and the dance floor fills up with people as they dance till the end of the ceremony which could go on till dawn. At the end of ceremony Attan is performed, Attan is a traditional Afghan circular dance, it origin is dated deeply in the pre-Islamic Avesticera of Afghanistan, it used to be religious dance involve many circles around the fire, some say it was dance of warriors around the fire performed before going to war, although this tradition was lost during Islamic period, or it has been modified, but soon during 14th century in mids of Hindukush mountains became famous once. Although in modern Afghan weddings Attan is performed only once but traditionally performed twice (At start of the wedding and at the end) and sometime even more, especially among Pashtu speaking groups in the south.