The Pamir is located in Tajikistan in Central Asia. The mountainous regions of the Pamirs are significantly distant from civilization, therefore the peoples living here are not as modern as, for example, the inhabitants of Dushanbe. In the Pamirs, all Tajik customs and traditions are observed . People here are incredibly religious; they honor their ancestors and abide by the laws. Tajikistan is a Muslim country with its own culture. The national values of Tajiks are not close to modern Russians, but they are interesting and curious. It is especially interesting to study the culture of weddings in a traditional style.
Pamir wedding is an event significant for everyone in the district. As the Tajiks themselves say, a wedding is a celebration, first of all, for guests, for the bride and groom, the meaning of the wedding is a little different. Preparation for the wedding begins with the selection of the bride to the groom. Often, matchmaking occurs already in infancy and is called "govorabahsh." Young girls and boys were married either by parents or matchmakers. According to tradition, before the wedding, the bride and groom can not even talk and get to know each other better. As the story goes, the younger the bride, the better. Pretty young, a young girl who has not married is considered an “old maid”. Pamiri wedding is not much different from the wedding of other Muslims. Here, the bride also prepares herself a dowry packed in 2 chests in advance. Help her in this mom, sisters, grandmothers and aunts. Women from the clan sew blankets, pillows and other bedding for newlyweds, believing that with their prayers and work they will help preserve happiness in marriage. Also, a veil woven by aunts protects the newlyweds from the evil eye and evil spirits. At this time, the groom must prepare a ransom (kalym) for the bride.
Pamir wedding, like any other, requires thorough preparation. Table setting for a wedding, cooking, decorating the halls falls entirely on the shoulders of relatives. Any wedding is a costly affair. In Tajikistan, it is customary to walk "in a big way", to invite hundreds of guests, musicians and cooks. A traditional Tajik treat is pilaf cooked according to a special recipe. People are richer in ordering restaurants, where they invite a good thousand relatives, while those who cannot afford luxury, organize a festival right on the street. As mentioned above, a wedding is a celebration for guests. The bride with her friends at this time leaves behind the curtain, where she will spend almost the whole evening. On the wedding day, the bride puts on a burqa. By tradition, it is accepted that tables are set for men and women separately, and at exactly 9 pm the fun stops. Also, a “dry law” was introduced in the territory of the Pamirs, so instead of alcohol, guests and newlyweds drink tea. In truth, the Pamir wedding is the most sober wedding in the world. Speaking about what is possible and what cannot be given for a wedding, it is worth noting that the laws of Muslims are quite democratic in this. Relatives and parents give young cars at home. It’s not customary to save money at a wedding. The gift should be useful, necessary in everyday life and not cheap, because you, like other guests, prepare the bride and groom for a family independent life.
The inhabitants of the Pamirs are hospitable and sincere people. They honor and respect both their traditions and those of other nations. Traditional weddings are still popular in Tajikistan, but people are not far behind the modern world. Here, as in other countries, the services of toastmasters, singers and artists that can entertain guests on this joyful day are popular. Relatives of young people in every possible way please, feed and drink guests. Fun here can go on for more than one day, because weddings are not so frequent. Grooms in the Pamirs are notable, and brides are not inferior to men. As a rule, not even familiar with each other before, the newlyweds get along well and have been happily married for decades.