What was the last occassion I had to dress up for?

[CShah]

This is todays daily journal theme.  

The last occassion I had to get dressed up for ...well every time my husband takes me any where I dress up just for him....I love dressing up for my husband...but the last occassion that involved people that I really don't know was about three months ago when I went to one of his friends wedding celebrations....a traditonal marriage in an Islamic country has three days of celebration...

The first day in the mehndi/henna celebration which normally takes place at the brides home a couple of days before the marriage...this is attended by all females and if the males attend for the groom they are separated in another area from females....The bride normally wears a green and yellow Mehndi dress which is very beautiful and made in different styles...This is the time where mehndi is applied to the hands of the bride and all the women sing traditional songs...This is sort of like saying farewell to the bride because soon she will be going to the home of the groom and his parents too start a new life....

Then after the mehndi day the pride stays in her home without leaving until the day of marriage....

The second day is Baraat...this is where the groom arrives at the marriage place...with his baraat (family members and friends) and his band of musicians playing traditional notes to announce their arrival....the groom then drinks yogurt sherbert with the brothers or other male relatives and the women relatives of the bride toss rose petals in the air to land on the grooms relatives to welcome them to the occassion....men and women are also seperated here....the bride normally wears a red dress this day.

The third day is the Nikkah..the actual marriage ceremony which can be done at the grooms or brides home or another place that they choose....the men and women are seperated here....the ceremony is performed by a Imam...verses of the Quran is read, Prayers are made...then the groom and bride accept one another....The bride also were another red dress this day.....

Yes the bride gets to wear three beautiful dresses if not more.....

This is also the day the Mehar or nuptial gift is given to the bride...The Mehar is obligatory amount of money given to the the bride fromt he grooms family...This can range in amount and goes by on what the groom can afford...I know women who accepted $1 and others that took thousands...as Muslims we are not to be greedy....

Then after the Nikkah is Rukshat...which is where the brides family says a tearful farewell to the bride before she leaves her fathers home to go too her FILs home....the father gives her hand to her husband and request for him to protact and take good care of her (because she is now considered the daughter of the MIL and FIL).  Then they arrive at the grooms home where MIL holds the Quran above DIL head as she enters the home for the first time after marriage....

Then there is Chauthi ...this is where the bride is allowed to go visit her family members and this is a joyous day for them...normally on this day or another day there is Valimah....it is a beautiful reception where both families come together along with friends and other relatives and enjoy a lavished meal....

Men are always seperated from the Women....every one enjoys and has a great time....each days celebration you enjoy a meal that is privided...also on each day you give money to the bride so they have something to start their marriage with and to wish them well....and money is also given to the groom...

The groom also gives the bride gold and other items of values since she is leaving all her possessions at her parents home....the family of the groom also provides her with clothes and other gifts....

I want to cry because I can see the day DH and I were married....Muslim wedding ceremonies are beautiful...they can be simple and beautiful and others can be extravagant...it depends on what the families can afford...

There are some who attend Masjid and have their ceremony and that is it...

Any ways....this is the last time I dressed up to be around others that were not family members,,,,