Xinaliq Wedding
Shepherd on the way to the village. Xinaliq, July 2009
View of the village, wedding tents spread in lower Xinaliq. July 2009
Family eating dinner at home. Xinaliq village. July 2009
Brightly painted interior of a typical home in Xinaliq village. July 2009
Family at the doorstep of their home. Xinaliq village. July 2009
Bride in the bedroom. Xinaliq village. July 2009
Relatives putting silk on the groom's neck to congratulate him with the marriage. The groom is the center of attention during the wedding, music and dance happens around him, while the bride waits inside the home to be brought out for a brief moment. Xinaliq village. July 2009
Wedding musicians by the tent. Xinaliq village. July 2009
Girl inside a dowry room. Woodens chests are decorated to store dowry of the bride. "Contgratulations on your marriage" is written in red letters on the dowry chest. Xinaliq village. July 2009
Bride's family at home, opening "Honcha", a traditional gift offering of sweets, fabric, cosmetics and other items given by groom's relatives before the wedding. Xinaliq village. July 2009
Relative of the bride breastfeeding in a quiet room. Fruit is prepared to be laid out for guests. Xinaliq village. July 2009
Sisters boiling chickpeas for Tikya Bozbash, a meal of mutton, potatos and vegetables cooked in a broth to be served for the wedding guests. Xinaliq village. July 2009
Women making Kelem Dolmasi for the wedding guests. A dish of minced mutton wrapped in cabbage leaves. The village diet mostly consists of mutton based meals. Xinaliq, July 2009
Women making Kelem Dolmasi for the wedding guests. A dish of minced mutton wrapped in cabbage leaves. The village diet mostly consists of mutton based meals. Xinaliq, July 2009
Men eating lamb kebabs inside the wedding tent. Women and men are separated during the wedding meal. Xinaliq village. July 2009
While tents are traditionally set up for men, women tend to eat the wedding meal inside the homes. Xinaliq village. July 2009
Boys playing in the hills surrounding the village. Xinaliq. July 2009
Sisters in law. Xinaliq village. July 2009
Grandmother and grandson at home. Poster of Azerbaijan's former president Heydar Aliyev on display. Xinaliq village. July 2009