The second stage is
"Jashn-e Aroosi ", the wedding reception - the actual feasts and the
celebrations, which traditionally lasted from 3 to 7 days. The ceremony
takes place in a specially decorated room with flowers and a beautiful
and elaborately decorated spread on the floor called "Sofreh-ye Aghd".
Traditionally
Sofreh-ye Aghd is set on the floor facing east, the direction of
sunrise (light). Consequently when bride and bridegroom are seated at
the head of Sofreh-ye Aghd they will be facing "The Light". By custom
Aghd would normally take place at bride's parents/guardians home.
The
arrival of the guests, who are to be witnesses to the marriage of the
couple, initiates the wedding ceremony. Traditionally the couples'
guardians and other elder close family members are present in the room
to greet the guests and guide them to their seats.
After
all the guests are seated the bridegroom is the first to take his seat
in the room at the head of Sofreh-ye Aghd. The bride comes afterwards
and joins the bridegroom at the head of Sofreh-ye Aghd. The bridegroom
always sits on the right hand side of the bride. In Zoroastrian culture
the right side designates a place of respect.
Persian Wedding Spread - Persian Wedding Sofreh Aghd
The spread that is used on the floor as the backdrop for Sofreh-ye Aghd
was traditionally passed from mother to daughter (or occasionally son).
The spread is made of a luxurious fabric such as "Termeh" (Cashmere: A
rich gold embroidered fabric originally made in Cashmere from the soft
wool found beneath the hair of the goats of Cashmere, Tibet, and the
Himalayas), "Atlas" (Gold embroidered satin) or "Abrisham" (Silk).
On Sofreh-ye Aghd, the following items are placed:
Mirror (of fate) "Aayeneh-ye Bakht" and two Candelabras
(representing the bride and groom and brightness in their future) one
on either side of the mirror. The mirror and two candelabras are
symbols of light and fire, two very important elements in the
Zoroastrian culture.
When
the bride enters the room she has her veil covering her face. Once the
bride sits beside the bridegroom she removes her veil and the first
thing that the bridegroom sees in the mirror should be the reflection
of his wife-to-be. A tray of seven multi-colored herbs and spices
"Sini-ye Aatel-O-Baatel" to guard the couple and their lives together
against the evil eye, witchcraft and to drive away evil spirits. This
tray consists of seven elements in seven colors:
Poppy Seeds "Khash-Khaash" (to break spells and witchcraft), Wild Rice "Berenj" Angelica "Sabzi Khoshk ", Salt "Namak" (to blind the evil eye), Nigella Seeds "Raziyaneh", Black Tea "Chaay", Frankincense "Kondor" (to burn the evil spirits)
