Restricted Laws for Tajikistan Brides and Grooms
New Government laws in the mountainous country of Tajikistan is giving couples who are planning their weddings more stress with restrictions being imposed on them when they are planning what should be one of the happiest days in their lives.
Eccentric Leader Emomali Rahmon decided to introduce the laws deeming it “unnecessary and unaffordable” after his country spent £750m in one year alone on private ceremonies.
Spot checks on future weddings are now being carried out by government officials and a fine of £1,500 will be imposed on anybody found to be breaking the new rules.
Future brides and grooms now have to think very carefully about their guest list as they are only allowed 150. Cars are restricted to four in the brides convey. Further rules govern that only 2 hot meals can be served at the reception, which has also had restrictions imposed on by given it a three hour time limit.
Weddings have always been taken very seriously in Tajikistan with the centerpiece being the ceremony itself and lasting up to three days. Family and friends with acquaintances and neighbours all attend and in small towns and village it has been known for the whole population to turn up.
The whole process would last for over a month and ran into thousands of pounds. Local equivalents of stag and hen nights, a ceremony where well-wishers came to ‘view’ the bride with even more celebrations to mark the 7 and 40 days after the wedding vows.
The legislation has split the society with half saying it in an outrageous intrusion into private lives while others are happy that it can help towards ordinary Tajiks building up giant debts by putting on a poor show and gaining a bad reputation among their peers.
Citizens Speak About the New Law
Mavclzhuda Samiyeve spoke on Russian television about the new law and said “So much is forbidden now. My friend’s wedding was a very sorry affair. Before it was much more fun. Now the parents don’t want to do any of this because they are worried they could get found out and fined, or fired from their jobs.”
She added ‘But for other citizens it’s a big relief. I’ve already had to marry off three daughters and I know how difficult and expensive it can be. Gulbanshi Rizoyeva, another mother said “If it was not for this new law, my son would have had to wait at leave five years before I’d let him get married”.
Further Restrictions
New restrictions do not apply to just weddings alone. Funerals have been given new rules inasmuch only 80 people can now attend one (60 in some cases).
Muhiddin Kabiri the leader of the Islamic Renaissance Party of Tajikistan said “people usually come without an invitation. They just arrive to pay their respects and offer their condolences to the family. What is the family supposed to say to the 81st of 82nd person who turns up?
Many citizens put these news restrictions down to a personal whim of their eccentric president. A short man with a puffy face and a black mass of swept back hair; a Communist turned Nationalist. Over the past year Mr. Rahmon has made new laws restricting what Tajiks can and can not do.
He banned the use of Russified surnames that ended in ‘ov’ or ‘ev’ because he decided that it was time they went back to their Tajik roots after using Russian names since Soviet rule. All newborn babies are not allowed to be given Russian names. Rahmon himself changed his own surname from Rahmonov.
Universities and schools are banned from mobile phones and having graduation parties and students and teachers are not allowed to use cars to travel to and from the universities.
Weddings Around the World
Weddings around the world have always had their own culture and way of celebrating. In India weddings are huge lavish affairs with hundreds of guests and days of festivities. One of the most extravagant weddings was steel magnate Lakshmi Mital when he spent £30 million on his daughter’s nuptials.
Weddings in the oil-rich federation United Arab Emirates can cost on average £40,000 and the government has even established a married fund of £10.000 that can help towards the bill.
In Afghanistan weddings are booming even though it is one of the Worlds poorest countries. They are classed as an important measure of social status with the guest list being as high as 600 to 2000.
Thank goodness that brides and grooms here in the UK are not restricted to who, how, where or what they have at their weddings!