Exchange of gifts :

The purohit (priest) selects an auspicious day for the engagement. On this day, traditional gifts are exchanged between the two families. Elaborate meals are served and there is much merry-making.

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Wanwun :

A wanvun is a music session. It is held after the engagement. Kashmiri folk and marriage songs are played during the session.

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Livun :

An auspicious day is chosen for the livun, the traditional cleansing of the house before a wedding. The bride's family and the boy's family do not necessarily do the livun on the same day. On this day, the floors of the Kashmiri mud houses are cleaned and treated with a mixture of cow dung, mud and water. All the married female members of the family attend the ceremony. This is also the day when the waza or family cook arrives and puts together a mud-and-brick oven called war in the backyard of the house. This is where the traditional meals will be cooked for the wedding ceremonies.

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Wanwun :

Following the livun, wanwun or music sessions are held every evening at the houses of both, the bride and the groom. Relatives and neighbours participate in these sessions.

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Maanziraat :

The maanziraat ceremony takes place a week prior to the wedding. It begins with krool khanun, a ceremony which involves decorating the door of the houses of the prospective bride and the groom. In the evening, the bride-to-be follows an elaborate bathing ritual, during which her feet are washed by her maternal aunt. After the bath, her eldest aunt decorates her hands and feet with maanz (henna). Maanz is also distributed among the relatives and neighbours. The women invited for this occasion are served a delicious Kashmiri meal prepared by the waza. Dinner over, all participate in a lively wanvun or music session.

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Devgon :

The devgon is a ceremony that marks the transition of the bride and the groom from brahmacharya ashram (the state of celibacy) to grihastha ashram (life of a married person). The ceremony is observed separately by the girl's family and the boy's family, in their respective homes. Before participating in the rituals, the relatives of the bride and the groom observe a fast. The purohit conducts the ceremony in front of a sacred fire. The ornaments and utensils that will be given to the bride by her family are also placed in front of the fire. An essential part of the rituals is the kanishran. This involves bathing the boy /girl with a mixture of water, rice, milk and curd. Flowers are also showered over the boy/girl. They change into a new set of traditional attire following the kanishran.

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Duribat :

This ceremony is held on the day of the devgon. The maternal relatives of the bride/groom attend it. Gifts are exchanged and a traditional vegetarian lunch served.

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