Though their family homes had stood next door to each other in Srinagar for 32 years, separated only by a shared boundary wall, Imaan Shah and Zamin Sheikh had lived much of their lives oceans apart. Also read | Watch ‘gorgeous’ Kashmiri woman transform into ‘a classic Malayali bride’
As reported by Vogue India, the two-week wedding itinerary seamlessly merged classical traditions with creative personal touches. Traditional Kashmiri weddings typically host separate events for the bride and groom, with the groom refraining from visiting the bride’s home prior to the baraat and rukhsati. However, Imaan and Zamin successfully persuaded their families to break tradition so they could share their nikah (marriage ceremony) together under one roof. Accompanying the male members of his family, Zamin made the short five-minute walk from his home to Imaan’s home, while the family’s women followed along singing traditional melodies before stepping back at the gate in accordance with custom. Escorted downstairs by her father and brothers, Imaan took her seat opposite Zamin, separated by a traditional nikah pardah. On the evening of their nikah, the couple hosted an intimate gathering at the Taj Hotel in Srinagar, featuring live performances by the renowned Nizami Brothers qawwali ensemble. Imaan stepped out in a Preeti Kler sharara set, pairing a custom hot-pink dabka dupatta with a statement teal hat—an eclectic choice that quickly became a talking point among her relatives. For the final baraat day and rukhsati (the bridal departure), Imaan selected a red Falguni Shane Peacock lehenga encrusted with Swarovski crystals, complemented by custom jewellery designed by Motiwala Jewellers. As she prepared to leave her childhood home, female relatives lined the staircase to sing wanwun — traditional Kashmiri wedding songs — accompanied by the rhythmic beat of the tumbaknari, a regional clay drum.
“I wanted to see him seated in front of me when I said ‘qubool hai’ — to look at him, feel the weight of that moment and experience all of its emotion together,” Imaan told Vogue India. “I’ve always been a relatively safe dresser when it comes to fashion, so this felt like a risk,” Imaan revealed to Vogue India, adding, “It was also the only outfit where I really allowed myself to explore my own creativity. The women serenaded the groom with ancestral verses that have welcomed generations of Kashmiri husbands, according to Vogue India.
