Climbing in as gracefully as possible is quite an endeavor. The bride is wearing a red, heavily embroidered dress, traditional jewelry and high-heeled shoes. It is time to see her off; a couple of women tie a veil of fresh roses and jasmine on her head that covers her face. And then she is covered with a red cotton fabric. A bride’s beauty is not to be seen by strangers, so she is carefully concealed until she reaches her new home.
To give the ceremony a traditional touch, a doli is arranged. The bride’s family helps her climb into the doli—making sure she doesn’t hit her head or trip on her dress. This is my first time to see a bride and her doli, and I am fascinated beyond words.
I do not know the exact history of dolis—also known as palkis—except that these were used to transport brides, Indian princesses specifically, to their new homes thousands of years ago. The dolis are decorated with flowers, fabrics and ribbons.
Fast forward to today: the groom—my cousin—lives a few kilometers from the place where the wedding reception is being held. It is almost impossible to carry the doli with the bride all the way to the groom’s home, considering the time (it is already 11:30 pm), distance, traffic and all. So the bride’s brothers carry the doli from the stage to the car waiting outside.
I personally think that every desi bride deserves the doli experience. When my own sisters get married one day, I’d like to see them ride in their dolis too. It makes a girl feel like a princess.
And at the end of the ride, a prince awaits…
He offers a hand, which the bride bashfully accepts—she’s covered with flowers so nobody really sees her blush—and he helps her out. He then carries her off towards the car (also covered in roses and jasmine). And after eighty thousand six hundred and forty pictures later, the couple finally leaves to start their new life together.
Except that we all follow them to their new home. And welcome the bride to the family. And feed them sweets. And tease them for an hour or two. And take a million pictures. And take a peek at their gorgeously decorated bedroom.
And then, finally, we leave them alone.
A Doli looks amazing. I agree, every girl should have a Doli experience!
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Hi Humaira! It’s too late for me, but I hope you have a doli experience on your wedding day
Every mother’s dream ! ‘meri beti doli mai jaye’ ! lol banda pochey zara ke doli uthaney wala ka kia hasar hoga baad mai !
Hi Khanum! LOL … dulhan ke bhai hotey na doli uthaaney ke liye
aj kal k bhaiyon ki sehat dekhi hai ? lol . they dont have the muscles for such hectic work now.
Besides, I dont have any brothers ! I would have to hire my cousins for this work!
Ha ha! Haan yeh to hai
I’m sure your cousins will be glad to work.
Assalaam Alaikum Nadia,
That doli is absolutely beautiful! Very well decorated, mA. I’d love the experience too, but I’m keeping my expectations in line with reality, it’s probably not going to happen, lol.
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Walaikum Assalam Sara! If you insist on having a doli, who knows? There are wedding organizers/planners who rent out dolis.
The Doli looks wonderful! It’s really fascinating.It would be greater if women are not only treated as a princess on their wedding day but thru’ the rest of their lives…who am I kidding!
Hi Lat! Some of us are still being treated as princesses several years after the wedding *wink* *wink*
I like the way you told the story! The doli is beautiful!!! Is this is in Dubai?
Hi LavendarClouds! Thank you. This wedding took place in Karachi.
Salams Nadia!
Been long since I strolled by here… (preggy blues =S )
Hehe I love this post!!! Though I didn’t get the doli experience I did get the whole princess treatment too! it reminded me of the beautiful wedding experience I had in Karachi, thanks to my wonderful in-laws… !! It’s indeed a wonderful experience right down to the family coming into the bedroom and teasing the newly weds… It’s surely a ton of fun!
Walaikum Assalam, Mrs Umer! Welcome back to the blog. I hope you feel better soon. Based on your posts, it appears like this pregnancy is bit tougher than the first one. May Allah make it easy for you and keep you healthy.
Yes, I saw your wedding pictures on Facebook … looked like you had a grand party! MashaAllah.
You made it sound like a beautiful experience
No dolis in Sg, but i remember seeing brides being carried off in dolis when i was in NWFP, Pk. From one village to another! The villages must have been nearby I suppose!!
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Hi Nisa!
Carrying the doli from one village to another?! Wow. Either the next village was a few steps away or the men were stronger
Very fascinating culture – the doli. Somehow this reminds me of traditional (ancient) chinese wedding culture where the bride is carried to the groom’s family home on…um…a wooden “carriage” carried by men. Somewhat like the doli. Her face is also covered with a red cloth (in fact everything has to be red like your pictures) and her feet must not touch the ground until she is inside her new family’s home i.e. she has to be manually carried into and out of the carriage. Virgin little boys are to jump on the bed of the newly weds in hope to bring abundance of babies in near future
Thanks for sharing Nadia!
That is very interesting, Tien! Looks like the tradition is pretty much the same, except for the part where little boys jump on the bed. That’s fascinating
Erm, take my wedding pictures too pliss?
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Sure!
that sounds like the fairy tale wedding we all have secretly wanted
great pictures i must say…..why didnt i know you wen i got married myself!!??
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Um…because I didn’t own a digital SLR then
A very old and gone tradition of here in Bangladesh. I wouldn’t understand what a Doli is unless you told it’s also called palki.
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So sad that it’s no longer a part of our wedding ceremonies. I guess men are getting lazy to carry palkis these days
Added to that, girls are getting advanced (or too smart) to step in and step out into palkis
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Oh no, Sajib! I have yet to find a desi girl who wouldn’t love to have a palki on her wedding day.
My mother had a doli, but its a dying tradition these days. People much prefer having the bride in a souped up car :p
I’m sure it has been a very special moment for your mother. The bride featured above had a car waiting for her outside – the doli simply carried her off from the stage up to the car.
i wish i had the doli experience or atleast been carried by my husband to some distance . but Alasss…… bros refused to carry the doli on their shoulders by suggesting to put the doli on a cart instead and husband dear gracefully excused himself too
tusk.. tusk.. tusk…:(
LOL … that is so funny, Joveria! I am trying to imagine you in red, sitting prettily inside a doli, and then the doli hoisted upon a cart
Khair…humari qismat main doli nahi thi to kiya huwa, let’s hope our sisters get to experience it.
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Doliiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii! Your Blog unwinds me after hours of studying. Thank You. May Allah bless you and your husband with everything best in both the lives. Ameen.
Summa Ameeen! JazakAllah khair for your dua, Hijabi. You made my day!