Written by Guest Blogger
Zainab Sulemanjee
As Muslims, many festive
celebrations and rituals govern our lives. From the colourful clothes on Eid ul
Fitr to the mouthwatering delicacies prepared on Eid ul Adha, we love
celebrating our rituals with feelings of love, compassion and sharing. Similarly
our family celebrations are also a reflection of the religious values and
cultural norms present in our religion and society. The one celebration that I
feel sets us apart from many other communities and cultures, is our weddings,
which are not only vibrant and colourful, but deep rooted in tradition.
Weddings in our part of the world are a family affair. From the initial
preparation of the bride’s clothes to the food we serve, each and every detail
is tended to with intricate care.
I am a working mom. Wedding
preparations are joyful but require an immense amount of time, dedication and
commitment. Last year, my younger sister was getting married. As the eldest
sibling, I was appointed by my mom to supervise all prenuptial affairs and
arrangements. Juggling between work, home, my kids and the wedding was very
challenging. The invitation list was carefully constructed, cards were printed
and dispatched, venue and caterer were booked, gifts for the groom and his
family were purchased, the photographer and event management company were finalised,
the bride’s clothes and jewelry decided as per theme of each event, and more.
I also had to prepare my clothes, keep up with kids’ exams and activities, and
create an agenda for guests from abroad. All in a burning hot climate. I was completely
drained out before the wedding functions actually began.
Our weddings generally last a
week or two due to the numerous functions from the Milad to Dholki, Mehendi, Sangeet,
Barat, Valima and many others which differ in their rituals, dress codes and
arrangements. One function is the Mehendi ceremony, symbolised by a bright
yellow/ orange colour and beautiful floral décor. A professional henna artist applies
intricate henna on the hands and feet of the bride as a symbol of beauty,
happiness and spiritual awakening. I was so preoccupied that I forgot to book a henna
artist. Once guests started pouring in, someone mentioned the significance of
the henna colour and its application, and realized I had forgotten a key aspect
of the celebration. Determined to set things straight, I frantically called a
few friends and finally managed to find an available budding henna artist.
Since she was the only one I could get my hands on, I readily agreed to her
rates. Apprehensive at first about how the designs would turn out, she amazed
me with her skilful techniques and modern creativity. After a fun filled
evening of music, dance and of course henna, I was relieved that everything
went smoothly. Sometimes it’s for the
best that people don’t know everything that happens behind the scenes to pull
of celebrations.
