It is customary for Uighurs to marry with only one wife and to cherish that commitment for life Silk Road tours. Generally Uighurs young, usually from 18 years for boys and 16 years for girls. With modernization of Uighur culture, it is common today to have an engaged marriage and thus there are several steps to complete a wedding.
1. Engagement
It’s usually a boy’s mother who begins the hunt for a suitable bride to be. The search starts by asking relatives and friend’s, neighbours and go-betweens about potential matches. When a likely match is found, a meeting with the prospective bride and her family is arranged. The boy’s mother always takes along lots of bread, meats, clothes or a golden ring if they intend to ask outright. If the girl’s parents feel that the match is suitable the proposal is accepted. If not, a polite excuse such as made such as “our girl is too young” and the offer softly declined.
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2. Dowry Arrangement
Following agreement, the new groom’s mother takes along a few relatives and neighbours to the girl’s family to negotiate the dowry. This is a tough step for everything associated with the wedding must be arranged by the groom’s side: gold for the bride, clothes and all the necessities needed for a grand wedding. Once arranged a day is finally set for the wedding party
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3. Wedding Feast
Wedding feasts are always held at the home of the bride-to-be. This is a very special occasion organized by the bride’s family. Several rooms at the girl’s home are usually set aside, and bread, fruit and sweets prepared. When the big day arrives, all the male guests from both sides begin to arrive immediately after the Morning Prayer until 8-9am. Guests must be served Pilaf rice as soon as they’re seated which is followed by a prayer to the bride & groom and the success of the wedding-to-be China tour deals.
4. The Ceremony – 1st day
After most of the guests have arrived, the Mullah (religious scholar) is asked to attend the ceremony. Before he arrives, men and women from both parties sit in separate rooms awaiting the anointed hour. The Mullah then proceeds to preach about the marriage. He asks the girl’s father if the dowry is sufficient and if consent is granted. Both bride and groom are asked if they accept each other and congratulations follow from everyone.
The party then really swings into action. All the males and family on the groom’s side go back to his home for a day of merriment, dancing and singing. For ladies, the party gets going later around 12pm at a feast only female members are allowed to attend. Ladies from the groom’s side attend a special wedding feast at the groom’s house and ladies on the bride’s side attend a special feast at her home too.
At the ladies’ feast special wedding pilaf rice is served, alongside fruit, sweets and vegetable dishes. The occasion is usually over by 5-6pm. At this point, the groom’s mother and 10-15 of his female relatives pay the bride a visit in her home to transfer her to the groom’s residence. Before they arrive several of the groom’s friends also pay the bride a visit with the same idea, though it is only a custom. When the friends arrive at the bride’s house they usually dance in her courtyard for around ten minutes to congratulate her before leaving.
When the grooms mother and female relatives show up, they are served with food and drink by the bride’s family, following which they ask the bride’s mother permission to transfer the bride from her home to the home of the groom by limousine. The bride, however, may experience some difficulties getting inside the limo! After the bride has moved residences, one of the groom’s sisters will accompany her into a new room China best tours.
5. The Ceremony – 2nd day
Come the second day of the wedding, and it’s the bride’s mother and female relatives turn to visit the groom’s home for a feast. On this occasion, the new guests are treated to substantial quantities of food and wine and before the dining is over, one of the groom’s sister will give the assembled a short dance and open the bride’s veil (to let all the women see how much she’s changed).
Before the bride’s mother leaves, the groom and 10-15 of his friends call politely to let her leave and exchange special gifts with her new son-in-law. All the groom’s friends push and pull the groom while exchanging gifts. This is one of the most exciting and interesting parts of the wedding.
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