Searching for a possible groom or bride is the first step of traditional Pakistani marriages in USA as well. Beyond the age 20, both men and women are carefully thought about grooms and brides in Pakistanis Living in America. Most marriages in Pakistani Based Americans are traditional arranged marriages, semi-arranged marriages or love marriages.
The types of marriages are briefly explained below:
Arranged marriages happen when a member of the Pakistani family or a close relative tries to bring two compatible people together in marriage. The groom and bride have usually never met before. This form of marriage is carefully thought about/believed traditional, but is losing (quality of being liked a lot or done a lot) among the newer Pakistani generations growing up America.
Semi-arranged marriage is a growing where both men and women interact with one another before marriage (a form of dating to build understanding). Both the man and woman have usually had (more than two, but not a lot of) opportunities to meet and get to know one another, by that/in that way allowing both to gain a sense of (state of knowing someone or something well).This process can happen over a span of a few months to a few years and may or may not end in marriage. However, if both agree upon marriage, the possible groom will approach his family to send a proposal to the Pakistani family of the possible bride.
Love marriages Love Marriages though uncommon in Pakistan, but Due to Social Media it is now becoming more common for US Citizens coming from Pakistan
Engagement
An engagement or mangni is a formal to mark the engagement of the couple. It is usually a small event that happens in the presence of a few close members of the would-be bride's and groom's families. Rings and other items of jewelry among rich families are switched between the would-be bride and groom. In traditional engagement the bride and the groom are not seated together, and the rings are placed on the bride's finger by the groom's mother or sister, and the other way around, too. However, separated engagement have become a very unusual thing among the newer generations and rings are usually swapped/switched between the couple. A prayer and blessings are then said for the couple, and the wedding date is decided.
Rasm-e-Hennna or mehndi is named after reddish-orange, a dye prepared from the Lawsonia inermis plant which is mixed into a paste form to apply onto the hands of the bride and groom. This event is held a few days before the main wedding and was usually held separately for the bride and the groom.
Barat
The baraat is a large procession, with a band and dancers. The groom and his horse are covered in finery and do not usually take part in the dancing and singing; that is left to the (people who attend big meetings) ("baraatis"). The term baraati is also used to describe any invitee from the groom's side. Usually, baratis are attended to with fancy respect as the honored guests of the bride's family, in a bid to display the serious and honest respect towards the groom's family and friends
Walima
The groom's parents invite the bride's family and guests for a food-based celebration. The food-based celebration is usually hosted at home but more commonly now, the walima is held in a marriage hall, restaurant or hotel. The walima is a celebration that (makes known to many people) the marriage, with a fancy feast almost the same as the main Shaadi day. However, the family of the bride may expect the walima to be on a smaller scale than the main Shaadi reception, to increase the hit/effect of the main Shaadi day.
PAKISTANI MARRIAGES IN USA
However in the west, or in USA some Pakistanis don’t celebrate their functions same they do back in Pakistan. They don’t have as many relatives in America to celebrate their functions with but most people who are the inhibitors for a long period of time live their live to the best and celebrate marriages in the traditional Pakistani way. Only a few friends and families are invited to the matrimonial ceremony because it is not a common practice. Some families even travel from USA to Pakistan just for arranging the Valima ceremony.
