Marriage Gwadar
In Gwadar district, marriage rituals significantly differ from those in other areas of Balochistan. Unlike other parts of Balochistan, labb (bride price) or haq mehr (dower) received in a 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 Gwadar 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 Hakims. Most of the people are monogamous as a second marriage is expensive. The custom of bride exchange is not practised in Gwadar.
The marriage starts with search of a bride by the grooms father. Mothers have very little role in decision making about the marriage of their son or daughter. Neither the groom nor the bride is allowed to choose his or her life partner. Decision of the parents is considered final, however sometimes the bridegroom is consulted before the final decision. 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 parties agree for marriage, details of the marriage including amount of haq mehr and dates of wedding are finalised. Some people arrange mangni (engagement ceremony) also. Customary haq mehr contains 40 sona (about 110 grams of gold), 80 date trees, some land along with irrigation water rights, and 20-30 pieces of clothes are given by the groom to the bride. At the time of nikah the parents of the groom give about 10 thousand rupees, 2 bags of floor, 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 that 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 in actual 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 on haq mehr. The wife’s rights on haq mehr not only give her economic independence to some extent, but also raise her social status. This is the 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.