Interesting wedding of Uzbek Ethnic Group

Wedding is the most important ceremony in the whole life of people. Uzbek wedding is effusive with nationality characters as well as emotion and jubilation 

According to the Uzbek tradition, wedding ceremony lasts for 4 days with different contents on each day. The first day is marriage certification day, mainly staged in brides’ home. In the morning, brides must preen and wear florid wedding dress, accompanied by girl friends and matron of honor. They concentrate in the neighbor’s home to wait for bridegroom marriage procession while girl mates are singing and dancing to greet brides. Simultaneously, bridegrooms are singing and tasting plentiful food at his own home with his friends to wait for the time to meet brides. In this day, all invited guests would go to greet at brides’ home hosted by parents from both sides. In the morning, male guests are treated with simple style. After eating feasts, guests dance for a moment, and then they will leave. In the afternoon, female guests would be served with better feast and more exciting atmosphere. Different from male guests, female guests should bring gifts with them. Besides, sisters of bridegrooms must come the home of brides and those respected guests are welcome by a piece of white cloth called “Bayandahi” spread before the gate of brides’ home.

In the dusk, marriage procession led by bridegrooms would head for brides’ home with singing and dancing. Once they go into the gate, people will embrace each other to greet and smear flour to other people. When bridegrooms step on the “Bayandazhi” cloth into the house, accompanying people would rush forward for a piece of “Bayandazhi” as a souvenir. As soon as the marriage match and parents of both sides have agree on the “divorce fee” (money paid to wives once husbands claim to divorce), marriage certificate ceremony hosted by an imam start formally. 

The imam recites scripture to ask if brides and bridegrooms want to marry; bridegrooms answer themselves while brides’ fathers answer instead of them. After both sides nod, The imam present tow flour cakes dipped in salt water to brides and bridegrooms, which mean brides and bridegrooms are like the relation of salt and cake and they combine together forever.

At the end of the marriage certificate ceremony, brides would put on wedding dress prepared by bridegroom with veils wearing and marriage portion bringing. Before leaving for bridegrooms’ home, brides must embrace their mothers, weeping; and then depart accompanied by their sisters or female friends. Young girls and boys play tambourines, pick musical instruments, and sing wedding songs with laughter all the way. On the way may be met “blockage” of young men in villages, who hold back the marriage procession to stop brides. Then those people must be treated with candies and handkerchiefs so that the happy atmosphere may be promoted greatly.

According to traditions, a pile of fire is made before the gate of bridegrooms’ home. 

When brides get down cart, they must walk around the fire for 3 circles, and then salute to the father-in-law and mother-in-law with bridesmaids. Afterwards, brides step on the “Bayandazhi” and go to bridal chamber. Now, the marriage songs sung by women guests resound. Once hearing the songs, bridegrooms must go in room and sit with bridegrooms. An old woman would hold a mirror before brides and bridegrooms and ask them what they see. Brides must say “sun” while bridegrooms answer “moon”. A moment latter, a old couple who are only married once would lie on the marriage bed for a while, and then they greet the newlywed to be together forever just like them. After the noisy jollification in the bridal chamber, the first day ceremony comes to end.

In the morning of the second day, brides’ families send breakfast called “Yisilike”to the newlywed, and a party called “Hujirkepai” is convoked. In the afternoon is the exposing ceremony with brides’ veils removed, and female friends from both sides will attend it. After evening feast, brides and bridesmaid come to hall, and a piece of flour-cloth is spread before them. Then, the bride’ mother would put flour and rice on her daughter’s hands for 3 times, which means that brides are expected to be a diligent women. All people require brides to remove veils when a female guest draws away veils. A roar of excitement flies from the room.

In the third day, parents of brides host a thanks feast called “Qialilake” in their home with bridegrooms, their parents and friends invited; guests are present with gifts.

In the fourth day, a “Qialilake” feast is held by parents of bridegrooms to invite brides’ family and return gifts to show their appreciation. Hence, all wedding ceremonies finish formally.

Interesting wedding fully demonstrates optimism of Uzbek people and how Uzbek people treat their life.