Pre-Wedding - The Groom’s “Test” and Bride “Kidnapping”

There is a tradition in Kyrgyzstan called kidnapping.  I do not know if in some parts of Kyrgyzstan it involves what I consider to be kidnapping – where the future groom and his friends capture a woman of the groom’s choice, leaving no choice to the woman herself.  But, at this wedding the “kidnapping” was all in fun.  Before noon on the wedding day, friends of Kunduz assembled at her parents’ apartment to decorate.  Then, they prepared a groom’s test to see if he was good enough to marry Kunduz.  They decided to use a “job interview” format to screen Khanchoro to see if he was qualified.  Their questions ranged from: “Why do you want to marry Kunduz?” to“What is Kunduz’s mother’s birthday?”

At noon, the groom-to-be and his male friends showed up in force to “kidnap” the bride. 

Kunduz’ friends blocked them at the door – and started asking Khanchoro the questions.  If he got any answers wrong, he had to pay.  It wasn’t interpreted for me, but I know that several bills passed hands from the groom’s best man to the maid of honor! 

His final two tests were that he had to burn a copy of Playboy, showing that he was putting all other women aside, and he had to call up to Kunduz’ window shouting out all the reasons he loved her and to please let him in.  He did pretty well there – at least in volume.  Several other windows in the apartment building opened wide, and children and women hung out to watch and listen. 

After a successful test and kidnapping, all the friends left together in a large Hummer limo – for pictures, drinks, and fun.  We didn’t see them again until they made their grand entrance at the wedding.