Where the families involved in the marriage resided in the same locality, it was a practice to bring the girl back to her home every day for the first seven days. She would stay with the family during the day and return to her husband’s house for the night. Visit on the first day, following the Valeemo, was formal in that bride’s parents should make a request to the boy’s parents to permit the couple to be taken to the bride’s house. The lady of the house would then grant permission on condition that they should be returned before nightfall. As it was a time when child marriages were prevalent, the system of daily visits was necessary to ease the girl’s anxiety in being in strange environment. However, the custom stayed on for the older ones too. Interestingly, the girl’s parents would not take any food or drink from the girl’s new household, during any of their visits, as that was considered disgraceful!

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​Visits on the remaining days were more or less informal until the seventh day, known as Sathado. This was an important day in the bride’s life as then onwards she would be fully integrated with the new family of her accession, with all rights and responsibilities of a housewife. The day was celebrated by the bride’s family by inviting the couple and all members of both the houses and a choice of relatives to a small function and entertaining them with sumptuous lunch or dinner. The bride would be presented with a set of jewelry, and the couple with dresses. The couple would take leave of the bride’s parents after kissing their hands. No Hath Chummani or Gor.

 

Inter - visitation thereafter would be informal. At least for the one year following, the bride’s family was expected to send gifts of dress, sweets and money, Eidy, for the couple for the Eid - el -fitr and a portion of meat for Eid - el -  Azha, in case a qurbani is done. If in the same Mohalla or near about, the couple would visit the bride’s parents and close family members to exchange festival greetings. If Ramadan intervenes, inviting the couple with the parents and other members of their household for Iftar was also part of a strong custom. Inviting the couple alone for any function was not only deprecated but also did entail refusal of permission for the visit.