Muslim weddings in Mysore uphold the Islamic traditions in marriage. Muslim divorcee matrimony in Mysore promise the divorced brides and grooms in Mysore, a new life. Walima, or the marriage banquet, is the second of the two traditional parts of an Islamic wedding. The walima is performed after the nikah or marriage ceremony. The word is derived from alwalam, meaning to gather or assemble. It designates a feast in Arabic. Walima is essentially interchangeable with American and English terms such as: wedding reception or celebration, birthday party or housewarming party. Walima is used to show domestic happiness in the household post marriage. While walima is often used to describe a celebration of marriage, it is also held to celebrate the birth of a newborn and the purchase of a new home.
Scholars have different views on what the correct time of walima is. The timing varies by culture and opinion; for example some believe it should take place :at the time of the wedding contract(nikah), some believe it should take place after nikah and prior to consummation, while some say at the time of the wedding procession or after consummation. The Arabs used different terms for the various feasts they enjoyed. For example: al-I’zar on the occasion of a child’s circumcision, al-khurs for a marriage not ending in divorce, al-wakira on building a new home,al-naqiáh when a traveller returns home, al-aqiqah on the seventh day after childbirth,al-maduba for a general meal without any specific reason. The marriage feast(walima) is a sunnah of our beloved messenger of Allah(pbuh)It is an outward expression of gratitude and pleasure and a great means of publicizing the marriage, which has been greatly encouraged. Many scholars regard the acceptance of a walima invitation to be binding, and one will be sinful for refusing it. When one accepts the invitation and attends the party, one has fulfilled the responsibility, regardless of whether one ate or otherwise, although it is better to eat if one is not fasting.
