Afghan Stag Party
Travis Beard / Argusphotography
The Afghan spring wedding season is a celebrative time when 1000's of men launch themselves in to debt, paying up to $20,000 for their wedding. The ceremony last for 3 days, on the second day there are both a hens night and a stag night. The stag night evolves around men drinking a volatile cocktail of whiskey and vodka warmed over an earthen pot and smoking copious amounts of hashish. A group of traditional musicians play Afghan classics that the men dance intimately, constantly reassuring us "That this is not a gay social club". The serious part of the 'all nighter' arrives with the henna ceremony. Historically the grooms palms were cut in little insertion so that they could be joined in blood, as time passed they replaced it with henna so it would be more healthy and less messy. After the two brothers are blessed by their father and given permission to go and marry, other guests are permitted to colour their beards if they desire. 1200 word article available
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Travis Beard / Argus / Picturetank BET0181170 Boys dance to afghan pop music at the wedding, the ceremony is divided in two amle and female sections, so the men spend the whole night dancing with men...
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Travis Beard / Argus / Picturetank BET0181169 Boys dance to afghan pop music at the wedding, the ceremony is divided in two amle and female sections, so the men spend the whole night dancing with men...
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Travis Beard / Argus / Picturetank BET0181172 The stag party is fueled by hashish, vodka and whiskey, men dance with men to traditional afghan music played by the hired band
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Travis Beard / Argus / Picturetank BET0181171 The stag party is fueled by hashish, vodka and whiskey, men dance with men to traditional afghan music played by the hired band
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Travis Beard / Argus / Picturetank BET0181173 The stag party is fueled by hashish, vodka and whiskey, men dance with men to traditional afghan music played by the hired band
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Travis Beard / Argus / Picturetank BET0181175 The only serious part of the night is when the father of the groom applies henna to the grooms hand. this ritual dates back 100s of years, but originally it was the hand of both groom and bride that were cut and their bloods mixed.
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Travis Beard / Argus / Picturetank BET0181176 The only serious part of the night is when the father of the groom applies henna to the grooms hand. this ritual dates back 100s of years, but originally it was the hand of both groom and bride that were cut and their bloods mixed.
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Travis Beard / Argus / Picturetank BET0181177 The only serious part of the night is when the father of the groom applies henna to the grooms hand. this ritual dates back 100s of years, but originally it was the hand of both groom and bride that were cut and their bloods mixed.
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Travis Beard / Argus / Picturetank BET0181178 The guests have a turn out being henna-ed up by the locals
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Travis Beard / Argus / Picturetank BET0181179 The guests have a turn out being henna-ed up by the locals
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Travis Beard / Argus / Picturetank BET0181174 The stag party is fueled by hashish, vodka and whiskey. the hashish is smoked inside the cigarette and the vodka and whiskey are mixed together asnd heated over a urn into a explosive cocktail.
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Travis Beard / Argus / Picturetank BET0181181 Smoking of hashish is very common in Afghanistan, here the men used a whiskey bottle to smoke the hashish through....
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Travis Beard / Argus / Picturetank BET0181180 Smoking of hashish is very common in Afghanistan, here the men used a whiskey bottle to smoke the hashish through....
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