Marriage Kech
In Kech, marriage rituals significantly differ from those in other areas of Balochistan. Unlike other parts of Balochistan, the labb (bride price) or haq mehr (dower), received in marriage contract, is owned by the bride herself and she has the full right of spending or dispensing it. Haq mehr is more prevalent in Kech and the parents of the bride do not get any money from the groom’s parents. Endogamy is the prevalent style of marriage specially among Gichkis. Most of the people are monogamous as a second marriage is expensive. The custom of bride exchange is not practised in Kech.
The marriage starts with the search of a bride by the grooms father. Mothers have very little role in decision making about marriages of their sons or daughters. Neither the groom nor the bride is allowed to choose his or her life partner. The decision of the parents is considered final, however sometimes the bridegroom is consulted before a final decision is made. When parents of the groom selects a bride for their son, they make a formal proposal to the bride’s parents, who have full authority to accept or reject the proposal. If both the parties agree, details of the marriage, including an amount of haq mehr and date of the wedding, are finalised. Some people arrange a mangni (engagement ceremony) also. Customary haq mehr contains 120-130 sona (about 325-350 grams of gold), 40 date trees, some land along with irrigation water rights, and 20-30 pieces of cloth, which are given by the groom to the bride. At the time of nikah the parents of the groom give about 10,000 rupees, 2 bags of flour, 1 bag of sugar, 1 bag of rice, 1 tin of ghee (cooking oil), enough quantity of condiments and spices, and 5-6 goats or sheep to the bride’s parents for arranging a feast. After marriage, the groom stays for three nights at the bride’s home, after which he takes her to his home.
The bride has full autonomy in using, spending, or selling the items received as haq mehr. Only a part of the haq mehr is paid at the time of marriage and the remaining is given in written form. If the husband divorces his wife, he will have to pay the haq mehr in full. If the wife demands divorce, she will have to withdraw from all her rights of haq mehr. The wife’s rights on haq mehr not only give her economic security to some extent but also raise her social status. It is for this reason that the amount of haq mehr is considered a matter of social prestige for both the parties. After the death of the wife, the amount of haq mehr is divided among her children according to Muslim inheritance laws.