GRAND MARIAGE IN COMOROS -- A DECADE OF PREPARATION
- Durata: 5 Zile (aprox.)
- Locatie: GRAND COMORE
- Cod produs: CTT-5DT-FE
The Grand Mariage in Comoros -- A Decade of Preparation
The Grand Marriages usually takes place from the months of July-September, after the “small wedding” in about 10-20 YEARS or until the couple has saved enough money for this, a “Grand Marriage” must take place to obtain a social status. This is a week or two celebration usually occurs between the months of July-September, but preparations for the wedding take about a minimum of 6 months to 10 years. As per tradition, the Grand Mariage should cost more than the grand wedding of a relative or a friend that took place before yours and it could cost up to 20,000 euros. Comorans take pride in this Grand Mariage, they would save over time and spend it one lavish wedding.
If you marry outside this custom, you would not gain any respect from the people and the community even the President of the Republic. Comoran women want a grand marriage more than men, as it just not helps them acquire high social status, but they would gain a huge sum of fortune from the groom. Comoran ranks as #1 in countries that have influential women and women are highly respected and honored in their country.
In the first week, the bride prepares the groom’s attire for the grand marriage, if the groom has multiple wives every wife must prepare an outfit.
The renovation or furnishing of the house as if it’s a new house for both the bride and the groom. In regards to social status, this tradition weighs heavily on Comoran men, if they hold the grand wedding they would have the right to wear the traditional clothes, from the headpiece, robe, “Beye” and other items that he can’t wear unless he’s held a grand marriage.
The key element for Comoran woman’s grand marriage preparations is her beauty, the “Mesenzal” ritual will take place, this preparation could take a week to 6 months depending on their social status for the bride to shine and be as beautiful as the moon.
Djaliko Day is the end of the 1st week of the wedding preparation, the groom together with the village people visits the bride’s family first then the groom’s family, distribution of money for public projects is done the visitation to each other's family and on the old times the couple will feed the village instead of handing out money or both.
Thursdays in the first week of this wedding festival are dedicated to women and Fridays for men. People from other tribes will start coming in, the men and women will dance and chant on the way to the bride’s house to congratulate her. The wedding will take place after the guests from other towns and tribes arrive, and relatives in other countries have called or sent their congratulatory messages. The wedding will take place, and everyone is invited, even tourists are welcome to witness.
After the wedding, the groom will move to the bride’s house instead of the bride moving into the groom's house. The groom will be bringing his belongings and the clothes prepared by the bride on his arrival to the house. Village people and guests from other tribes will be dancing and chanting along the way, this marks the final stage of the wedding.
TOUR ITINERARY:
DAY 1
You will be staying in Golden Tulip Grande Comore Moroni Resort & Spa, and will head to the Iconi mosque first, where we will spend half a day meandering in the markets and mosques and labyrinthine sinews of the Comorian towns and souks. We will taste some snacks and spices/flavors that are famed and endemic (and historic) in Comoros too, and then hit the ring road to circle the island's black and white sand beaches while gazing up at the monstrous volcanic slopes of might Mt Karthala at the base. It can take the whole day for the roundtrip circuit through the island to the black sand and white sand beaches and stretches where we can have a picnic and enjoy swimming and serenity, so bring as much water as you may need for the day and any comfort snacks.
DAY 2
It is Thursday, a van will be picking you up to drive down the town. You will be arriving in a village wherein a grand marriage is taking place. In the first step of the wedding ritual the groom will be visiting the family of the bride together with his family and most trusted friends, they will be exchanging messages for each other speeches will be made to commend both party's families. After this the traditional distribution of money or as they call it Jeleyo, from the groom, will be given to the village people and food for every guest. It will be a fun-filled afternoon of dancing and chanting with the locals.
At night the ladies of Comoros will start their beauty ritual Mesenzal as this ritual requires at least a week before the wedding day, and thus considered as the key element to every Comoran bride's wedding preparation. You are also welcome to take part in this, discover the magic of Ombija, and be as beautiful as the moon!
Day 3
Friday prayers will take place for the men, the seating arrangement will depend on the hierarchy of men. Djaliko will mark as the end of the first-week preparation for the wedding, witness men in special outfits depending on their socials status dancing in the streets from men who had their grand marriage leading the procession to men who are single. At the end of the procession, men and women will be gathering in the center of the town, dancing all night and celebrating the groom and the bride. The celebration of Djalikos depends on how many wives the groom has, Thursdays are meant for women and Fridays for men.
Day 4
Today you will witness the preparation for the feast, as family, friends, and neighbors of the groom and bride help each other in the next days and you will be able to try out some local cuisines. It is Saturday, the height of preparation for the grand wedding. People from other villages and cities will start to arrive and to take feast, more interaction with locals! Women will be helping out to clean the bride's house, while men will usually arrive in the evening for the Isha -- the evening prayer time. Gathering of guests called Al Zkir, the single and most important part of the marriage, will take place later in the afternoon through the evening reading of some verses in the Quran, sermon from elders and scholars, and reciting the 99 beautiful names of God, the invocation of the groom and percussion in the background -- only men in the tribes are allowed to attend in Al Zkir.
Day 5
A procession will take place, wherein the groom will be bringing his belongings and his gifts to the bride's house this will mark as the final preparation for the wedding. The procession will start with the bride's family bringing the clothes that she made for the groom to wear on the procession to her house and both families will give speeches, after this, the procession will commence. Chants and percussion, together with village people the groom travels wearing the clothes that the bride made herself to her house. Upon arrival, the bride's family will recite her virtues and how this marriage will add credit to his standing in the society, this will mark the final stage of the grand marriage.
Day 6
End of services
Included:
• Accommodation
• Meals as mentioned
• Transportation
• Local Tour Guides
• Tours
• Airport Pick up and Drop off
Excluded:
• Airline Tickets (Domestic and International)
• Personal expenses (like sunscreen, souvenirs, insect repellent, etc…)
• Drinks
• Laundry services
• Visas
• Travel and Medical Insurance (mandatory to bring, show, and prove to participate)
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
COVID-19 SAFETY GUIDELINES
What you can expect during this experience:
- Guides required to regularly wash and sanitize their hands.
- Face masks are required for travelers and guides in public areas.
- Tour equipment is sanitized before and after usage.
- Hand sanitizers are available to travelers and staff.
- High Traffic areas are regularly sanitized.
- Regular temperature checks are conducted for the staff, before and after the tour.
- Regular temperature check before the tour will be done for the travelers.
- Transportation vehicles regularly sanitized, before and after use.
- Social distancing will be enforced throughout the duration of the tour.