Pakistani Student Association hosts fake wedding celebration
By Amy Donovan –
Marriage is a lifelong commitment, but for two Binghamton University students, Sunday evening in the Mandela Room provided a test-run for tying the knot.
Pawan Marfatia, a senior majoring in integrative neuroscience, and Kiru Sivanesathasan, a junior majoring in integrative neuroscience, participated in a mock Shaadi, or fake wedding, hosted by the Pakistani Student Association (PSA).
Over 200 people danced, took photos, received henna and ate South Asian food catered from Moghul Fine Indian Cuisine. The PSA will be donating $500 of ticket sale proceeds to an orphanage in Pakistan, because organizers said they wanted to give back to the country.
Before the bride and groom entered, music played while guests found their tables, mingled and took pictures of the traditionally decorated stage, which had string lights hung in the background and a ceremonial couch for the bride and groom.
With the help of his friends, the groom, Marfatia, entered the room and danced traditionally down the aisle while guests cheered, throwing both rose petals and fake money.
The bride, Sivanesathasan, entered shortly after, led by four women holding candles and four others holding a tapestry above her head. Cheers erupted as the couple joined each other on the couch, as guests returned to their seats shortly afterward to watch Binghamton Bhangra perform in traditional clothing to American, Pakistani and Indian pop songs.
Ushna Khan, president of the PSA and a junior majoring in integrative neuroscience, said that the purpose of this event was to provide the student body with a realistic impression of Pakistani culture.
“We just want to show people that what the media portrays isn’t totally correct,” Khan said. “There are so many different people out there — yes, there are bad people, but yes, there are also so many good people. We want to show that we can have fun and do all this stuff and celebrate a country that may not be seen positively.”
Both the groom’s and bride’s friends performed choreographed dances while Marfatia and Sivanesathasan watched before joining in. Afterwards, the bride and groom cut the wedding cake together and fed each other a piece.
Laila Amin, a senior majoring in sociology, came to the event to support her friends performing. She said that she loved how diverse the crowd was, showing a widespread appreciation for Pakistani culture. Amin also stated that this kind of event is important because it shows a side of culture that most people might not know about.
“I think it’s important because other than being Pakistani, most Pakistanis are Muslim,” Amin said. “So I feel like it sheds a better image and light on us as a whole.”
Khan said that the mock Shaadi is an event that everybody can be involved in and is able to enjoy.
“It’s something that is really one of the happiest parts of the culture, something that really shows what we do,” Khan said. “We wear fancy traditional clothes and we do so many traditions but it is also one of the happier times. It’s one of those things that is for everybody to enjoy.”
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