An Ismaili Wedding in the Pamirs Through My Lens by Muslim Harji
Editor’s note: Our remarkable series of portraits from Badakhshan through the lens of (Montreal’s) Muslim Harji continues with this Part II exclusively dedicated to an Ismaili wedding in a small village in the Pamirs that Muslim and his wife Nevin attended during their recent memorable visit to Badakhshan.
Harji’s photos are stunning and enchantingly beautiful, and if you missed Part I of the series, we invite you to click on The Ismailis of Badakhshan Through My Lens by Muslim Harji. Please share the link to this page with your friends, family members and contacts around the world using the share feature provided below, and via your social media pages. Simergphotos is always pleased to hear from you and welcomes your feedback on this piece (and others) in the comments box at the foot of this page (note that you may choose to remain anonymous, and we never publish your email address).
Once again we are indebted to Harji for his highly acclaimed pieces, which have become standard regular features on this blog, http://www.simergphotos.com, as well as its sister literary website, http://www.simerg.com.
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AN ISMAILI WEDDING IN A VILLAGE IN BADAKHSHAN
BY MUSLIM HARJI
(Special to Simerg/Simergphotos)
Nevin and I were fortunate to be invited to the wedding of Nanish and Sorborn during our recent visit to Badakashan. The wedding was a seven day fair, which took place in a small village of Namadgut (Near Ishkashim). The whole village of forty Ismaili families was involved in the preparation and celebration of the wedding, as Nanish belonged to the whole village.
NANISH, THE BEAUTIFUL BRIDE
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WEDDING PREPARATIONS
“Pamirs have very unique wedding ceremonies. It lasts seven days! On the first day of the ceremony, the bride and the bridegroom proclaim their marriage and hold separate banquets with their own families, which continue for three days. On the fifth day, the bridegroom, accompanied by friends and relatives, goes to his bride’s home. There, the newlyweds make their commitment before a Khalifa, after which they must drink a cup of water and eat a bit of meat, cake and salt. This seals the marriage, and only then are they allowed to be together.”
The family discussing the details over cups of Choi, fresh Naans & lamb shorba. Photo: Muslim Harji. Copyright.
Preparation of a Pamiri delicacy, which is similar to the East African “koko thende”. Photo: Muslim Harji. Copyright.
Making preparations to fry the delicacy in a traditional kitchen fire. Photo: Muslim Harji. Copyright.
Frying the delicacy. Photo: Muslim Harji. Copyright.
Preparations for Plov (pilaf)…cleaning and cutting carrots. Photo: Muslim Harji. Copyright.
Nevin Harji, left, joins Pamiri Ismaili women in the preparation of sweets made with butter, milk and sugar, which is similar to barfi. Women sing happy and joyful marriage songs while making the sweets. Photo: Muslim Harji. Copyright.
Villager helping in the preparation of the wedding feast. Photo: Muslim Harji. Copyright.
Getting the bride ready for the occasion. The grandmother is in charge of dressing the bride, with friends and village folks helping with manicure, pedicure and makeup. Photo: Muslim Harji. Copyright.
Bride in the making…with a little personal touch? Photo: Muslim Harji. Copyright
The bride with women and children of the village. Photo: Muslim Harji. Copyright.
A blessing for the bride from her beloved grandfather. Photo: Muslim Harji. Copyright.
The grandmother witnessing the Pamiri socks ceremony. Photo: Muslim Harji. Copyright.
The groom’s family and other guests are received with sweets as they arrive at the bride’s home. Photo: Muslim Harji. Copyright.
The celebration…Photo: Muslim Harji. Copyright.
Osh, generically known as plov (pilaf), is usually prepared by the family and village elders. Photo: Muslim Harji. Copyright.
The plov is a rice dish made with shredded yellow turnip or carrot, and pieces of meat, all fried together in vegetable oil or mutton fat in a special qazan (a wok-shaped cauldron) over an open flame. The meat is cubed, the carrots are chopped finely into long strips, and the rice is colored yellow or orange by the frying carrots and the oil. The dish is eaten communally, often with one’s hands in the traditional way from a single large plate placed at the center of the table. Photo: Muslim Harji. Copyright.
It is usually served by the friends and the family of the bride. Photo: Muslim Harji. Copyright.
The celebrations continue…Photo: Muslim Harji. Copyright.
And even the Khalifa joins in the celebrations and dances. Photo: Muslim Harji. Copyright..
…and the feasting too continues. Photo: Muslim Harji. Copyright.
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THE NIKOH AND RECEPTION
The main wedding ceremony is the “nikoh” (nikkah), during which the Khalifa reads verses from the Holy Qur’an, and blesses the couple. This ritual is held in order to confirm the husband’s agreement to protect his wife, and she in her turn must honor and respect her husband. After finishing the nikoh, the newlyweds proceed to the registry office, and then there is a reception with merry programs, dances and delicious treats. Photo: Muslim Harji. Copyright.
Reception following the nikoh…the playing of “daf” welcomes the bride and the groom to the reception. Photo: Muslim Harji. Copyright.
The arrival of the bride and groom to the reception hall. Photo: Muslim Harji. Copyright.
There is feasting at the reception. Photo: Muslim Harji. Copyright.
…..as well as dancing. Photo: Muslim Harji. Copyright.
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THE BRIDE AND THE BRIDEGROOM
Nanish, right, and Sorborn exchange rings.Photo: Muslim Harji. Copyright.
A beautiful portrait of the couple, where the bride has finally removed the “Ghunghat” veil.
Date posted: Sunday, June 21, 2015.
Copyright: Muslim Harji. 2015.
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Profile of Muslim Harji at Contributors.
Simergphotos welcomes your feedback. Please complete the form shown below. Your letter may be edited for length and brevity, and is subject to moderation. We are unable to acknowledge unpublished letters. You may choose to remain anonymous – note your email address is never published or shared by us unless you choose to specify otherwise.
You made us participate in this wedding in a beautiful way – with expressive pictures and explanations. Thank you Muslim and Nevin for the beautiful experience, and your talent through the lens.
Mubarakis Nanish, and Sorborn. Mowla keep you both happy and a very handsome couple, beautiful wife! My mouth waters with the Pictures of the Plov. ..Mubarakis Muslim bhai to you too for such amazing photography as usual.
Thank you Muslim for sharing this beatiful event! Devora Goldenberg
Very well presented as if we were watching a film of the whole event. Thanks to Muslim Harji and Simergphotos.
Thank you Muslim bhai for sharing the spetacular photos with us. Felt like I was there. Keep taking photos.
Muslim, the pictures are superb and thanks for sharing them with the global community to give us a glimpse of traditions in the Pamirs. God Bless !
Yasmin Jamal
Thank you dear Muslim and Nevin for sharing my wedding pictures.
My dear Nanish & Family,
Thank you and the Mamadpanova family for your kindness and hospitality.
Staying with you all in Namadgut was a joy and an experience of a lifetime.
You taught us the true meaning of Pamiri hospitality.
Thank you again
Nevin & Muslim Harji
Interesting and wonderful! Would this be a typical wedding or is it an exception? Looks a bit extravagant and elaborate given the socioeconomic circumstances of the region.
This was relatively a simple typical wedding. All the preparations, cooking, serving was done by family and friends. Everyone who attended the wedding chipped in, in one way or another. There was nothing elaborate about the wedding except the rental of the reception hall. That was our personal observation.
Dear Muslimbhai,
Very lovely pictures of the unique wedding, and Mubaraki!
Dear Navin and Muslim.
Very colorful and beautiful wedding pictures of the Ismailis In Central Asia. Thank you very much for sharing the photos with us.
Hi! Muslim and Nevin:
I really enjoyed the beautiful wedding photos and the details. Wow! Thank you..
Excellent Muslim. You are our lense to the outside world.
Beautiful pictures. Very fortunate to have attended the ceremony. Thanks to the families in Pamir for allowing the pictures to be shared.
Muslim and Nevin,
Once again, beautiful pictures and wedding. Congratulations.
Sadru and Habiba
Dear Muslimbhai, Thank you very much for such a splendid and beautiful coverage of the wedding of our Ismaili families in Pamir. Please keep it up. Bravo!!
Thank you for having me attend such a beautiful ceremony, the pictures are lovely ! Muslim and Nevin I really appreciate following you on your GREAT ESCAPADES xx
Thanks Muslim, for sharing the traditions and culture of an Ismali community outside of Canada. The Bride and Groom looking stunning to say the least. Please convey our congrulation to them. Sunny Karnick Montreal
Simply superb Harji bhai…and Nevin looking great as well…..a small thought on the sidelines “…the ismaili wedding is not much different after all….except for the bride and the groom who may be thinking of other stuff, the rest of the crew are only interested in dining and dancing….”
Keep up the great work.
Very beautiful wedding pictures. Thanks to both of you for sharing knowledge and culture with us. We see and gain knowledge through your eyes.
Dilshad and Diamond Abji
Great photos.
Dear Muslim,
Thank you very much for the articles and beautiful photos of Badakhshan. As fellow Montrealers, we take pride in your and Nevin’s travels and in your photographic skills.Hope to see you soon on some occasion. Wassalam.
Moin Kermani.
Very beautiful pictures. Handsome groom and beautiful bride – congratulations and best wishes. Thanks for sharing.
Muslimbhai and Nevinbahen:
Thanks for the lovely event coverage. The photographs are just SUPERB! Getting to know well the Ismailis in the Pamirs. Thank you very much and looking forward to more coverage of the Ismailis in Central Asia.
Great Documentary!!!
My liking is tradition-culture, it moved me. God bless the couple. Photography is superb.
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Thanks Muslimbha n Nevin bahen for sharing beautiful pictures of the newly weds with lots of culture knowledge. Sharing is caring.