Salema

Saleha Akter Urmi; [Facilitator]

Wedding gate (embroidery)

Fultola (embroidery)

Rohingya weddings and marriage

Embroidery (EMB)

Decorative

In the village where she lived, Salema says Rohingya people needed special permission from the government to marry. That’s why wedding gates were rare. Still, she remembers the big, decorated wedding gates of some of her wealthy neighbours.

Wedding gates are a tradition in both Bangladesh and Myanmar; Buddhist and Hindus include idols in their gates while Muslims only use fresh flowers, paper decorations and lights. It is also a fun way for the bride and groom’s families to interact and get to know each other. On the morning before the wedding, 15-16 people usually friends and relatives from both sides who are a little experienced in craftwork come together to make the gate. The bamboo base of the gate is bought from the market for 2,000 kyat and then covered with decorations. Sometimes they make floral bicycles and airplanes to decorate the gate, which is placed outside the groom’s house where it stays for three days after the ceremony. All guests enter the ceremony through that gate. The bride arrives in a rented car decorated especially for the event. If the groom knows how to drive, he will pick up the bride and bring her to the event parking the car around the gate. It is every girl’s wish to have a decorated gate at her wedding.