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Fatwa CenterWedding traditions in India
Question
Asalam-Alaikum,
I want one clarification regarding cultural ritual at the time of marriage. In northern India it is a tradition that one day before Nikah in Groom home some ladies gather for haldi(turmeric) ritual where these ladies massage the body (like arm, feet, chest and face ) of groom with wet turmeric and singing traditional songs. In these ladies some are Mahram (like sister, mother's sister, maternal aunt) and some are non-Mahram (like cousin sister-in-law, cousin sister). I want to whether this type of ritual is permissible or prohibited in Islam. One more thing here at the time of Waleema bride and groom are sitting in stage and all the people coming in waleema come in the stage for giving congratulation and gift. At that bride hasn't cover her face. Is it allowed for that particular day to uncover her face.
Please reply back ASAP as I am going to marry very soon.
Answer
All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad 
is His slave and Messenger.
The traditions that happen in weddings are permissible if they do not include a matter that is forbidden in Islam. Therefore, if the ceremony which you described in the question does not include a forbidden matter, like a wrong belief, the existence of musical instruments, mixing between women and non-Mahram men, or a woman revealing what it is not permissible for her to reveal from her body, and the like, then there is nothing wrong in doing it [it is permissible]. For more benefit on what a woman is not permitted to see from another woman, please refer to Fataawa 90940 and 92295.
With regard to Islam respecting the traditions of the people if they are free from religious prohibitions, please refer to Fatwa 99480.
As regards the bride revealing her face, if this happens in the presence of non-Mahram men, then this is not permissible whether this is for the wedding or at other occasions. According to the most preponderant opinion of the scholars 
a woman is obliged to cover her face. For more benefit, please refer to Fataawa 83702 and 83033.
Moreover, it is permissible for a bride and bridegroom to sit on the stage, but everyone should avoid religious prohibitions, like mixing (between the sexes), men shaking hands with non-Mahram women, and the like.
Allaah Knows best.
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