Mohammad Araf el Hajj
24 years old, hometown — Zarka, head of the welding department of “Abu-Dhabi Plaza”
Our wedding was held in accordance with Kazakh traditions, and I liked almost everything. For example, I did not like the fact that I had to get up when the guests were saying toast. The wedding itself lasted a long time, but I know that it is normal in Kazakhstan when the wedding lasts seven or eight hours.
Families in Kazakhstan are different from Arab
I had a feeling that now I have parents in Kazakhstan, as if I were in my own family.
Kazakhs eat a lot, whether it is breakfast, lunch or dinner. People like to laugh and tell jokes.
Kazakh traditional cuisine is not for my stomach. I prefer Russian or Uzbek dishes. For example, plov, manty, pelmeni, pancakes and chebureki.
My brother was surprised how Kazakh families can be hospitable, especially when a guest from another country comes. Hosts give visitors gifts and do everything possible to make people feel comfortable in an unfamiliar country.
In Jordan, the bride and groom do not see each other until the ceremony begins. After the newlyweds have finished preparations, the groom's friends come for him by car and all together go for the bride, and then to the restaurant. Newlyweds usually sign at the registry office before the wedding and wear wedding rings on the ring finger of the right hand, and during the wedding ceremony, they change the rings to the left hand. Traditional wedding in Jordan takes place in a restaurant where close relatives and friends gather, the celebration lasts two or three hours.
In some families, men and women celebrate in different rooms during the ceremony, but now not many modern families observe this tradition.
Mahmoud Shokry
35 years old, hometown — Sharm el-Sheikh, CEO of New fashion club
Wedding traditions in my home country, Egypt, are similar to Kazakh ones. I liked the fact that in Kazakhstan, the hosts are preparing many gifts for guests.
Often in Egypt, weddings are held on the street, where there are many guests
The wedding process lasts three days, but every day is dedicated to one thing. First day for the bachelorette party when the bride's friends are organizing a holiday for her, on the second day the couple and their families go to the mosque to register. Imam prays, says the names of the bride and groom three times to a minaret so everyone can witness creation of a new family. Also during this ceremony, the bride's father officially gives her daughter to her husband's hands. This night the newlyweds spend together with close relatives and friends.
Usually friends take an active part in organizing the wedding. They rent a car and take the bride.
There many guests on the wedding and the whole ceremony lasts until 6 o’clock in the morning and is accompanied by fireworks, singing and dancing.
We prepare a traditional dish, which is a bit like beshbarmak, but without the horse. This dish is called fatah and another dish — makhshi, similar to dolma.
Raj Sharma
33 years old, hometown — Siliguri, freelancer
I remember how my wife and I checked into the registry office and after a while we had a wedding. I understood that this sequence is followed in Kazakhstan.
In India, not many families register, because for residents it is more important to observe all the rituals.
Our Kazakh wedding was spent in a big and quite expensive restaurant and we invited about 200 people
The ceremony was interesting. Toastmaster joked a lot and involved all the guests. After a while, I was bored with toasts, since we had to stand for a long time.
I was surprised that me and my bride, now my wife, had to go through white cloth and guests throw coins at us. I walked ahead, my wife followed me, and we were told that we should not turn back at all. Then we were given this cloth and later I found out that I should give it to a girl who wants a marriage.
I was surprised that we had to visit historical places in the city and leave flowers, as well as to take many professional pictures near the sights.
In general, I enjoyed everything.
