Afghan Senate approves “Wedding Law”
The Afghan Senate has approved a law that regulates wedding prices in the country. The “Wedding Law” was passed by the House of Representatives last year when a number of Afghan youths had complained about the soaring wedding costs.
Millions of Afghans have remained single due to high wedding expenses. Traditionally, the groom’s family has to bear the burden of high cost of wedding. And, on top of that, the bride’s family asks for a large sum of money in what is known as “Walwar” or “Toyana”. The bride demands big wedding ceremonies in lavish wedding halls from the boys’ family, regardless of their financial status.
In 2012, Afghanistan’s Ministry of Justice began the process of drafting legislation to ban unnecessary wedding demands, such as engagement parties, birthdays, henna night, and restricts the number of invitees to 500. It will also ultimately ban the Walwar or Toyana.