Customs and habits of Uzbekistan

Morning Palov
Ceremony of the morning palov is held during the wedding (“sunnat-tuyi” or marriage ceremony) and commemoration ceremonies ( 20 days and 1 year after the date of death). Organizers of the wedding appoint the date and time of the morning palov, having agreed preliminarily with the mahalla community or quarter’s committee. Invitations for this day are sent to relatives, neighbors and friends. In the evening, one day before the event the ‘sabzi tugrar” ceremony (slicing the carrot)is held which is usually visited by neighbors and close relatives. After the ceremony all participants are invited to the table. Usually, performers are also invited to the “sabzi tugrar” ceremony. At the table during the feasting elders distribute the duties among the present. Morning palov should be ready by the end of the morning prayer – “bomdod namozi”, because the participants of such prayer should be the first guests. By the end of the morning prayer the sounds of karnay, sunray and tambourine announce the start of the morning palov serving ceremony.
Guests take seats around the tables and after reading the fotiha (wishes) flat bread and tea are served. Just then the palov in lagans (large plates) are served – one for two. After the feast the lagans are removed, and guests again make a fotiha, and having thanked the host, they leave. Upon their departure the tables are fixed quickly for reception of new guests. Morning palov ceremony usually lasts for one and half – two hours. During this time the invited performers sing songs. At the end of morning palov the honorable guests are given gifts – usually these are chapans (traditional men’s robes). Commemoration palov differs from the celebration one by that the guests having taken the seats read the suras from the Qur’an and commemorate the passed away person. The feasting is finished also by reading suras from the Qur’an. Performers are not invited to the commemoration ceremony, and tables are fixed more moderately comparing with celebration. One should note the specific feature that the celebration and commemoration palov ceremonies are served only by men.