Qashqai Wedding; Unique Ceremony of Iranian Nomadic People

One of the happiest and most indigenous celebrations in Iran is the Qashqai wedding. The people of this tribe do their best to hold a glorious ceremony. Qashqai is a group of tribes in Iran that consists mainly mostly of Turkic peoples but also of Lurs, Kurds, and Arabs.

The Qashqa’i mainly live in the provinces of Fars, Khuzestan, Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad, Chaharmahal, and Bakhtiari, especially around the cities of Shiraz and Firuzabad in Fars. The people of Qashqai are happy and energetic people who try to spend most of their days celebrating. Wedding is one of their most important ceremonies and being single is considered a sin.

Love is something that gets less attention between them and usually develops over time between the couple. The two families choose a place to celebrate. The program is usually held in pastures and plains to facilitate singing and group dance along with a variety of local games. They work together to clear the wedding area of ​​rocks and bushes, make tents for guests, and decorate the tent floor with carpets, mats, and wool.

The bridal chamber is built at a high altitude. Flags or handkerchiefs are also hung over the tent. A tent has also been set up for cooking and the necessary items are placed in it. The Henna ceremony is held on the day before the wedding and up to a few days after the wedding.

When the bride is ready, they put a large silk scarf on her head and face. This headscarf stays on the bride’s head until the night of the wedding and is removed with special rituals. The girl is usually placed in a tent the day before the wedding, and the groom is not allowed to see her.