Dear MEL Topic Readers,
Afghan couples marry in mass ceremony in bid to cut costs
To arrange a marriage in Afghan culture, the first contact between a
couple is typically made by the male’s family. The female’s family rarely
approaches a male’s family to avoid being perceived as “too desperate”. Once
the prospective wife’s family has agreed, the two households will then
negotiate the finances of the couple and the dowry, money brought by the bride
to her husband’s home. The groom's family pays for the wedding celebration. It
frequently lasts a night, a day, or sometimes a few days. During this time, the
marriage contract is signed. The bride will then move into her husband's place
of residence (which is sometimes with his whole family). It is not only a traditional
and religious event but also a financial contract and burden to both families. However,
after decades of political and military conflicts, many Afghans can’t afford such
costly traditional wedding expenses, especially the ceremony. So, some low-income
Afghan couples chose to be part of a mass wedding ceremony with other 50
couples, which cost them just about half of a traditional ceremony. In any
event, no dancing or music is allowed under the Taliban regime.
Read the article and learn about what marriage means and costs to
Afghans.
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