Wedding in the Pakistani culture - Essay Example

Pakistan and India have lived together for centuries until 1947, when the two countries parted ways with each other with the Muslim majority in the former and the Hindu majority in the latter. Although, since 1947, the two countries have not had good relations with each other and have had many wars since then, yet there are many traits of the Hindu culture that are ingrained in Pakistanis, and same holds true for the Indians also. The two nations, having lived together for centuries, share norms and values, and many characteristics of their cultures are alike.

Mehndi happens to be one of them, though there is no significance of Mehndi in Islam, that happens to be the religion of a majority of Pakistanis. In Islam, there is Nikah and Walima. However, Mehndi is a very strong cultural feature of a Pakistani wedding, and any wedding is considered incomplete without the function of Mehndi. The function of Mehndi is specifically meant for singing and dancing.Some Pakistanis prefer to have two Mehndi functions, one for the bride and the other for the groom, while a vast majority of Pakistanis organize one Mehndi function, that stands both for the bride and the groom together.

The function of Mehndi is fundamentally meant for ladies, and gents have little to no representation in this function, particularly in the more reserved class of Pakistanis. Nonetheless, modern families particularly the elite class ensures equal participation of both ladies and gents in the function. Dress code: Yellow is the most dominant color in a traditional Pakistani Mehndi function. Yellow color is associated with Mehndi because Mehndi itself is a strong shade of yellowish brown. Yellow color reflects in the stage, flowers, decoration, dresses, ribbons, bridal dress and the curtains.

Most ladies wear shades of yellow. The dresses are bordered with golden ribbons to maintain the yellow theme along with lending the touch of festival to ordinary yellow clothes. Men, on the other hand, have no specific color definition for their Mehndi dresses. They may wear any color from white to black. Again, there is variation in the color scheme in men’s Mehndi dresses depending upon the conservatism of the people celebrating the function. In extremely well organized Mehndi functions, all men and boys that are related to the bride or groom wear Kurta Shalwar of same color, usually white or black.

The Kurta is topped with a Pattu. Men’s Pattus seem very much like the girls’ Dupattas, though they are actually quite different. Men’s Pattus are longer than girls’ dupattas and are specifically meant for the function of Mehndi. Other than the Mehndi function, Pakistani men do not wear Pattus. (“Pakistan Mehndi Dresses Pictures”). Significance of Mehndi: Mehndi being an essential component of a traditional Pakistani wedding, speaks of the livelihood of Pakistanis and the beauty of the culture of Pakistan.

The function incurs a lot of cost to the organizers. In fact, a major part of the total expenses of a traditional Pakistani wedding goes into the Mehndi function. Despite its huge cost, people organize it for no other