Nikah is the official wedding ceremony of Muslims. The wedding attire for a Nikah function follows the sober yet elegant customs of the ceremony. There are a wide variety of wedding dresses worn during a Nikah, from sari to shararas,and salwar kameez. A dupatta or head scarf is used to cover the head as a mark of respect.Sometimes the face is covered partially to falling as far back as the shoulders.
Bride’s dress
During the first day of the wedding ceremony known as ‘Mehendi’ bride traditionally wears an outfit in yellow colour matching the significance of the ceremony. During this ceremony, mehendi or henna is applied on her hands. Her female friends and relatives escort her holding a yellow coloured dupatta.
On the main day of wedding, Muslim brides usually wear heavily pleated lehenga in a bright color, preferably in shades of red, with a long blouse embroidered in gold. A dupatta is draped over her head and styled around the shoulders and waist to keep with the age-old traditional sentiments. The fine gold embroidery of the dress and the jewellery worn by the bride is also beautifully displayed.
The Bride along with the other women wear gold and silver jewelry studded with precious and semi-precious stones during wedding. Necklaces with intricate engravings and ethnic Jhumkas or earrings, heavy gold bangles in delicate designs called Kach Koor and Bingar, gold bracelets with studded stones called Manthoora, the Durcan or big drop earrings, and Pari Hara adorn the bride. The bridal look for Nikah is, however, incomplete without the distinctive Veja Daman, which is wrapped around the wrist and runs in chains along the bride’s fingers and end as rings.
Ornaments worn by a Muslim Kerala bride include Padi Mala, Chakrakanni Mala, Aalochana Mala (necklaces), Mekkath, Alicathu, Jhimiki, and Pachakallu (earrings), Thol Vala, Thari Vala, Kannadi Vala (bangles for wrist), Mudipoo, Nettipattam, Mudichakram, and Matti (head adornments), and the Arappatta waist belt.
Groom’s dress
The traditional outfit of Muslim grooms is usually sherwanior a heavy embroidered kurta with pyjama. Sometimes people opt for a more Western suit outfit. In many places, grooms may wear a floral veil of roses during the wedding ceremony. There is also a special turban worn by grooms during his entrance, which is known as the Karakurti topi.