In the Indian subcontinent, invitation cards are an important part of elaborate wedding celebrations that go on for days. While these days people go in for unique and complex designs for invitation cards, a simple handwritten wedding invite is winning over netizens.
A photograph of the 90-year-old handwritten invitation in Urdu was shared on Twitter by Karachi-based fashion designer Sonya Battla. It was written in 1933 for her grandparent’s wedding that took place in Delhi. The photo of the simple invitation has over 9,000 likes and hundreds of retweets since it was posted on December 30.
My grandparents’ wedding invitation circa #1933 #Delhi pic.twitter.com/WRcHQQULUX
— Sonya Battla (@SonyaBattla2) December 30, 2022
A Twitter user, who provided the invitation’s translation, said it was written by Muhammad Ibrahim for his son Hafiz Muhammad Yousaf’s wedding scheduled to be held on April 23, 1933.
In the invite, Ibrahim asks guests to assemble at his Delhi home on Qasim Jan street, and then accompany the family to the bride’s house in Kishan Ganj. According to the translation, the baraat or the groom’s wedding party was set to leave at 11 am. Before signing off the letter, Ibrahim also subtly requests his guests to be on time and writes, “Your punctuality will make me comfortable”.
” I praise and pay gratitude to Prophet Muhammad
Respected Sir, Peace be upon You
I am thankful to Almighty Allah for this blessed time. Wedding of my son, Hafiz Muhammad Yousaf is scheduled on 23 April 1933 / 27 Zil-Hajj 1351 on Sunday.
1/n 👇— 🇲 🇦 🇱 🇮 🇰🍁𝐇𝐀𝐌𝐙𝐀 (@Night_Dweller_1) December 30, 2022
and become part of Walima and make me thankful to you.
Barat will start its journy at Sharp 11:30 am. Your Punctuality will make me comfortable.
Writer of the Invitation:
Muhammad Ibrahim
Hafiz Shahaab-ud-Din Muhammad Ibrahim
Place:Delhi pic.twitter.com/p9zPsIKcj7— 🇲 🇦 🇱 🇮 🇰🍁𝐇𝐀𝐌𝐙𝐀 (@Night_Dweller_1) December 30, 2022
Commenting on Battla’s tweet, many people noted that the groom’s house is in the same locality as the famous poet Mirza Ghalib. Echoing this, a Twitter user wrote, “Your forefathers were Mirza Ghalib’s neighbors:) Gali Qasim Jan. Though Mohalla was different.”
Another person commented, “Very informative card of last century. Look how beautifully written with Khat e Nastaleeque (Urdu calligraphy style) with blend of modest words. Thanks for sharing and salute for preservation of that lost treasure of our past identity.”
