Nikokh-Tui
Nikokh-Tui, wedding, is the most solemn and large Uzbek ceremony. Wedding ceremony traditionally is of great importance in the life of Uzbeks and celebrating as an important event. Having one trait in common, the ceremony has its own peculiarities in various regions. The main moment of the wedding ceremony is moving of a bride from her parent’s home to the home of a bridegroom. In wedding day at bride’s home they eat wedding pilaf, which is cooked at bridegroom’s home and handed over to a bride. The guests eat the same pilaf in the bridegroom’s home.
In wedding day Imam of a mosque says the newly married couple “Khutbai nikoh” (marriage prayer), after finishing this prayer they become a husband and wife before Allah (Lord of Highest). Imam explains the newly married couple rights and duties of husband and wife. Usually after executing nikoh newlyweds go to the registry office for registration of their civil marriage. In the wedding day bridegroom puts on sarpo (garments and shoes, presented by the bride’s party as a wedding gift), after that the bridegroom and his friends go to the bride’s home to greet her parents and relatives. After the bridegroom and his friends return home the bride herself comes there. Before leaving her native home for bridegroom’s home, the bride solemnizes the rite of parting with parents. She is accompanied with close friends. They sing traditional songs “Ulanlar” and “Yor-yor”.
The wedding itself begins from the day of the bride welcome at bridegroom’s home. After the wedding has been finished, the bridegroom accompanies the bride to the door of the room, intended for newlyweds. In the room “yanga” (usually a woman who is intimate with the bride) welcome the bride, than the bride changes her clothes and expects her bridegroom coming, staying behind the “gushanga” (curtain). Not long after the bridegroom accompanied with his close friend “yanga” appears by the room’s door and together with “yanga” goes to the curtain, where his bride is waiting for him. For the purpose of coming in the bride’s place he should symbolically buy out her from the “yanga”, so they start haggling. Thereafter the bride and the bridegroom stay alone for the night. Early morning “Kelin salomi” (bride’s greeting) rite is solemnized. By the beginning of the ceremony the bridegroom’s parents, all near relatives, the bridegroom’s friends and closest neighbors gather outside. All people in turn come up to the bride with wishes, presents and blessings. The bride is obliged to welcome them, low bowing from the waist and give present to every greeting person. Thereby the festive occasion finishes and family life begins.
