Indian wedding glossary · After the wedding
What is Rukhsati?
Also written: Rukhsat, رخصتی
Rukhsati is the bride's departure from her parents' home after the nikah in Muslim weddings, when she leaves with the groom and his family.
- Who keeps it
- Muslim families in India, Pakistan and Bangladesh.
- When
- After the nikah, before the walima.
About Rukhsati
What should you know about Rukhsati?
The family gathers to bid her farewell, and many families say prayers for her new life as she leaves. Customs at the rukhsati vary between families and regions.
It can happen on the same day as the nikah or later, and is often followed by the walima hosted by the groom's family. Like a vidaai, it is an emotional moment, and the bride's family often walks with her to the car.
In the order of functions
Where does Rukhsati come in an Indian wedding?
After the nikah, before the walima.
- Before the weddingFixing the match, the engagement, the date and the card.
- The functionsPujas, haldi, mehndi, sangeet and the family days before the wedding.
- Wedding day ritualsFrom the baraat to the pheras, nikah and anand karaj.
- After the weddingVidaai, the new home, the reception and the first visits.
Planning your own days? The free wedding function order planner puts your functions in a sensible order with dates.
On the card
What do families write on the invitation for Rukhsati?
Rarely printed alone; some cards say: Nikah and rukhsati, Saturday, 14 February.
Related words
Words that go with Rukhsati
- Nikah
Nikah is the Islamic marriage contract, in which the bride and groom each give their consent in front of witnesses and a qazi, the mehr is agreed, and the nikahnama is signed.
- Walima
Walima is the wedding feast hosted by the groom's family after the nikah, to celebrate the marriage with relatives, friends and the community.
- Mehr
Mehr is the gift of money or property that the groom gives the bride as part of the nikah, agreed between the families and written in the nikahnama; it belongs to the bride alone.
- Vidaai
Vidaai is the farewell of the bride from her parents' home after the wedding, when she leaves with the groom for her new home.
- Doli
A doli is the palanquin that once carried a bride from her parents' home to her new home, and "doli" is still the word for the bride's departure at vidaai.
Questions
Rukhsati, answered
What is Rukhsati?
Rukhsati is the bride's departure from her parents' home after the nikah in Muslim weddings, when she leaves with the groom and his family.
Which families celebrate Rukhsati?
Muslim families in India, Pakistan and Bangladesh.
When does Rukhsati happen in the order of wedding functions?
After the nikah, before the walima.
What do families write on the invitation for Rukhsati?
Rarely printed alone; some cards say: Nikah and rukhsati, Saturday, 14 February.
Put Rukhsati on your invitation with its date, time and venue, and send it on WhatsApp. Two invitation designs are free forever.
Make your invitation