Kashmiri Weddings: A Season of Its Own

A Kashmiri wedding isn't really a single event — it's closer to a season, stretched across multiple days and functions, each with its own dress code, its own food, and its own small rituals. Here's a sense of how it actually unfolds.

Multiple Days, Multiple Functions

Rather than one ceremony, a Kashmiri wedding typically spans several distinct events over days, sometimes weeks — pre-wedding functions, the main ceremony, and post-wedding gatherings, each drawing different combinations of family and guests.

What's Worn, and When

Outfit choices shift with each function. Lighter, brighter pieces — a white or green pheran, for instance — suit daytime, pre-wedding events, while richer tones like maroon or navy come out for evening functions. A Toosha shawl, given its rarity, is often reserved specifically for the most significant day of the celebration.

Wazwan: The Centrepiece Meal

The main wedding feast is typically a full wazwan — dozens of courses, mostly meat-based, served communally on shared plates called trami. It's less a meal and more a display of hospitality on a large scale, prepared by a dedicated team of cooks for what can be hundreds of guests.

Saffron and Dry Fruits Throughout

Saffron and dried fruit show up constantly across the celebration — in modur pulao (the sweet rice dish), in kehwa served between functions, and in gift hampers given to close family. A well-stocked pantry of saffron and mamra almonds is practically assumed for a household hosting a wedding.

Shawls as Gifts

Giving shawls to close family members attending the wedding is a common practice — a gesture that doesn't require knowing exact sizing the way stitched clothing would, making it a practical and well-regarded choice.

The Scale of Preparation

Because of how many functions and guests are typically involved, preparation for a Kashmiri wedding often starts months in advance — sourcing hand-embroidered outfits, planning the wazwan, and stocking the pantry staples that will be needed throughout.

A Celebration, Not a Single Day

Thinking of a Kashmiri wedding as one event undersells it — it's a genuinely extended season of its own, with its own rhythm of clothing, food, and gifting that unfolds over days rather than hours.