Traditional Pakistani Wedding Songs

Marriage is an important step for everyone, no matter the culture. In Pakistan, marriage is considered to be the most stable living form for two people and is also a union between two families. Pakistani weddings are rich in customs, fun and celebrations.

Arranged marriages are a tradition in Pakistani culture. Matches are made depending on the wealth and social status of the families. Polygamy is also allowed under the Pakistani Family Act. If a husband has no children with his first wife, he might take a second wife. Several pre-wedding customs and rituals have no foundation in Islam, but the Pakistani people have adopted them from the Hindu culture.

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Mangni is the ceremony marking the engagement of the couple that takes place in the presence of the important members of the two families. Mayun is custom during which, the bride enters into the state of seclusion from eight to fifteen days before the big day.

During the Mangni take place some beautification rituals for both bride and groom. A paste made from turmeric, sandalwood powder, herbs and aromatic oils, called Uptan is applied each day, on their hands and face.

Another ritual before wedding is the Dolki, a popular ceremony of singing traditional wedding songs. The bride to be is officially treated as bride or dulhan and she wears a traditional Pakistani yellow outfit. A day before the wedding takes place the Rasm E Mehndi or Henna Party. It’s a ceremony where women apply Henna floral designs to the bride’s hands and feet, while singing and dancing.

Groom goes to the bride’s home on a horse or in a car, during the Baraat procession. He is received by the bride’s family with flower garlands and rose petals. Now comes the Nikah, a purely Islamic official wedding ceremony which is attended by close family members and friends of the couple.

The fathers of both the groom and bride are witnessing to the wedding. The Islamic Imam reads some verses from the Quran and waits for the proposal and acceptance of the wedding. After the pronunciation of the wedding, the groom is escorted to his bride being allowed to sit beside her.

While dinner is served to the guests, the sisters and female cousins of the bride steal the groom’s shoes, demanding a sum of money in return. The Ruksati is the ceremony where the bride says goodbye to her parents, close friends and family. The traditional song for this custom is Saada chireyan da Chamba, a Mussarat Nazir song.

The groom washes the feet of his bride in a basin of water sprinkled into the four corners of the house. This will bring wealth, prosperity and good luck. Here are some danceable songs for a Pakistani wedding:
Masty by Ali Zafar

Do dil by Noori

O meray khuda by Atif Aslam

Aah bhi jaa sanam by Atif Aslam

Tere liye by Atif Aslam

Tumhare liye by Raeth