Wedding in Uzbekistan – it is a very responsible action, which is prepared very carefully. Mother of the maturing daughter, for many years, puts in a national trunk (sunduk) all that in the future should be needed in preparation for the wedding. This is not only his daughter’s dowry, but those gifts (lengths of cloth to make dresses, shirts), which will need to bestow future relatives. A special attribute of the dowry is considered suzani (Suzani throws and suzani beddings). Girl embroideres them by hand herself, patiently, the pattern by pattern creating the picture of her soul. Then the suzani should hung on the wall of the bride’s room. Suzanis created in different regions of Uzbekistan, significantly differ from each other.

Courtship

All information about the girl and her family is thoroughly gathered by the future groom in details. Whether she knows how to cook, if not obstinate in character, whether she is good? Then matchmakers (souchi) are sent to the girl’s house. As such, may be the mother of the future groom and someone from close relatives. They take sweets, cakes, put a piece of ikat fabric (Decorative ikat fabrics).

Even if the girls side warned that the matchmakers would come, they do not cook and do not serve hot dishes at such meetings. Just put on the table sweets and tea.

Girl’s parents do ot give consent on the first time. If they are not satisfied with the grooms matchmakers, then all brought sweets and fabric are sent back. If they want to hint that time to think is needed, then something of the brought leaved, usually ikat fabric. And only on the third time girl’s parents give their consent and plan preliminary dates for the wedding.

Wedding Events

1. Shirin Khoury ( “eat sweets”) or zhavob berdie ( “gave the answer”).

The next stage, when the groom with a few men (elders) are invited to the bride’s house, in order to discuss specific dates of the marriage. Girl’s side gives a list, which specifies things should be presented to the bride as gifts: the lengths of cloth and fabrics for dresses, suits, coats, boots for winter and summer, gold jewelry, the national costume made of ikat fabric. Number of guests at a wedding from both sides and those costs that are to be for the evening are specified. According to this list and specifications, the groom’s family should bring the bride’s house all the necessary products before the wedding: animal (usually a sheep), rice, oil, vegetables, alcohol, beverages, flour, fruit and sweets.

2. Photiya or Zanona (“Engagement” or “Woman”) – women’s wedding.

This event is pre-negotiated, and the groom’s party brings the day before Photiya all food and refreshments required to the bride’s house. Early in the morning at the groom’s house women gather to prepare Lyalya (trays), they put the gifts that previously demonstrated to all present. Their number must
necessarily be even.

Photiya otherwise can be called an official matchmaking feast. Usually, this event is held during the day. Festively dressed women and men go along the streets with Lali on their hands. They are led by musicians. Loud sounds of karnay and surnay (national musical instruments) and drums are heard in the whole district, as if announcing to all that the girl from those house is engaged and soon there will begin preparations for the wedding.

3. Hino bandon ( “Apply the hna”)

The evening is arranged in the house of girl and all her girlfriends are invited. Girls sing songs, have fun and read poetry. At this event, girlfriends apply “hna” to the palms and feet, so the evening was called “Hino bandon”. Bride constantly changes her new outfits and shows to her girlfriends during the whole evening.

4. Padar Osh (Father’s pilaf)

In the evening, the day before the wedding, the bride’s home are preparing for the morning pilaf (pilaf or plov is a national dish which is served during special events). Male Oshpaz (cookers) and their volunteers clean and chop carrots, onions, sift rice. The famous Bukhara Pilaf (Osh-Sophie) is prepared in 4 cauldrons. Long times ago the recipe of this pilaf was kept in a deep secret and not every chef agreed to cook it.

Padar Osh, literally translated from Tajik “pilaf father.” The girl’s father gives his “father’s debt”, seeing her daughter to another family. Therefore, at this event, they do not put alcohol the tables, for girl’s father it is a sad day and a very sad old song sounds.

On the morning pilaf served at 7:00 a.m., only men are invited and tables are served also by men. This event ends very quickly.

5. Juma-i-pushon ( “Dressing gown”)

On the same day at the home of the groom, but later in the evening, another pilaf is cooked. An event called “Juma-i-pushon” is held. The groom is presented the gift from the bride -goldembroidered robe, skullcap or a beautiful turban and embroidered waist scarf.

All these things are triumphantly puted on the young man by the Elder, and then reads the pray. The groom’s friends and relatives throw money and sweets on him. Ii this dressing, accompanied by close friends, a noisy procession with flaming torches leads the groom to the bride’s house.

6. “Evening” (evening ceremony).

Comparatively recently, the wedding, according to traditions, took place at the home of the bride. In our days large halls (tuy-hona) for large celebrations are built.

Weddings collect from 150 to 1000 people. It is believed that the wedding should celebrate on Thursdays and Saturdays.

After the wedding, the youngs go to the bride’s house, here another test is waiting for them. Girl disguised in old clothes, ichigi (light leather boots) is stretched on her feet and her face is closed with the parandja (the veil).

In the corner of a large room stretched something like a curtain, under the chant old women take the girl there. Then, likewise, the groom is also taken there.

After this event groom and guests from his side leave the bride’s house. The bride dressed in old national suit spend her last night in parents’ home. The next day, at dawn, one men from the groom’s side comes for the bride.

7. Ruybinon (“Rui – the face, Binon – to watch) – watch the bride’s face

After the bride brought to the groom’s house a small wedding begins. This small wedding is only for woman. Close relatives of the groom and neighbors are invited.

In a large room a dowry of the bride hungs, those outfits, which gave her future husband. Women come to get acquainted with the new member of the family and present the bride gifts (cloth, gold, money).

Again, under the sound of national music, refreshments are served on the tables. When guests leave, preparing of young’s bed begins. All this takes place in a solemn atmosphere, the most prosperous woman who has successful marriage and children, rolls on the young’s bed, wishing that they formed a happy family life.

8. Domod salom (Greeting the san-in-law).

A few days after the wedding the young couples are invited from the bride’s side. This is their first visit to the girl’s parents. The girl’s mother prepares each guest and her
son-in-law gifts.

9. Sar Shuen or Joy Gundoron (Gathering the bed).

A week after the wedding parents of the girl and her relatives visit the groom’s house. They bring gifts. On this day, the bed which was specially prepared for the young is gathered.

Joy Gundoron “collect the bed”. For the young, in the first wedding night, two beds are prepared: one high and another low. On the seventh day after the wedding these beds are gathered.

If the family adheres to the old attitudes, the girl’s mother is given a throw, as evidence of the girl’s innocence.

Sar Shuen – or “hair washing”. At the first visit, the bride’s mother brings gifts and pelvis (oftoba) among them. This is due to the fact, that during the first visit of the bride’s mother to the groom’s house, the girl’s hair is cleaned and gathered in a special headpiece: kultapushak. This is a symbol that the girl is now a woman.

10. Talbon.

In the first months of family life, young family is invited to visit relatives, both from the groom and the bride sides. This is the first invitation to the young guests in their new role as spouse.