Sistanis' Longstanding Custom of Sharing Costs for Weddings and Mourning

Zahedan – Director of the Sistan and Baluchestan Iranology Foundation said that “ham-kharji,” the custom of sharing costs in Sistan, is a longstanding tradition in which relatives contribute to wedding and mourning expenses and support families.

Zahedan- The director of Sistan and Baluchistan Iranian Studies Foundation said: The custom of sharing expenses in Sistan is a long-standing tradition for the participation of relatives in the expenses of marriage and mourning and supporting families.

In an interview with Mehr reporter, Dadkhoda Khodiar stated: One of the common subcultures in Sistan is the custom of "sharing" according to which relatives, neighbors, friends and residents of a neighborhood or village contribute to the expenses of each other's wedding or mourning ceremony.

The director of the Iranian Studies Foundation in Sistan and Baluchistan added: In the past, when a person lost a loved one, on the day of the funeral ceremony, in addition to participating in the preparation and distribution of food, they paid sums to help the family of the deceased, and these donations were recorded to be repeated for other members of the community on similar occasions.

He continued: This tradition has also been prevalent in marriage ceremonies and continues among many families. In such a way that the participation of relatives in providing expenses can provide an easier way for young people to marry.

Referring to the new form of joint spending in some clans and families, Khodiar said: Today, some family and clan groups form mutual funds and the members provide joint financial resources by paying the membership fee so that when one of the members dies, an amount to cover basic expenses is available to his family.

The role of relatives in the ceremonies of joy and mourning

He explained: After paying the first aid, the contribution of each member is determined and collected so that the funds of the fund can be maintained to support other families in similar incidents. This method provides the possibility of better management of unforeseen expenses and reducing the financial pressure on bereaved families.

The director of the Iranology Foundation in Sistan and Baluchistan said, referring to the direct participation of relatives in the ceremony, "in this tradition, many things such as reception, food preparation, distribution of the Quran and tea, and other rituals of the ceremony are done by the family members and relatives themselves, and in this way, the need to spend money on external services is reduced."

Khodiar pointed out: Sharing expenses is an example of social solidarity and collective responsibility in the culture of Sistan, which can reduce part of the financial burden of families in difficult economic conditions. Therefore, maintaining and strengthening this valuable custom can help to maintain mutual support and strengthen social bonds.