Ammon News - AMMONNEWS - Amal Ghabayen - In a scene first of its kind in Jordan, members of 'Tarif' cycling team Thursday night participated in the 'fardeh' of their friend Ahmad Eleiwah’s wedding on bicycles.

The 'fardeh' in Jordanian weddings is the traditional convoy of cars accompanying the bride and groom's car. The 'fardeh' procession picks up the bride, usually from her family's house, and proceeds to.. well, wherever the wedding takes place.

Thursday's unique 'fardeh' brought a fresh break from the routine procession, riding their bicycles, the bike racing team members accompanied the 'fardeh' from near Addustour's building on Queen Rania Street to one of the hotels in the area.

Of course, no Jordanian wedding is authentic without a lot of noise! Drivers sharing the road joined in the joyful wedding procession by honking their horns and waving to the bride and groom from their car windows. Large numbers of pedestrians also shared by waving at the procession in a spectacle first of its kind.

The groom had agreed to this idea suggested by members of the cycling team as a wedding gift on the joyous day that brings Eleiwa together with the girl he fell in love with, who is also a member of the team.

Eleiwa and his new bride met during the team's cycling tours.

'Fardeh,' is also sometimes called 'Zaffeh,' which is also when the family and friends of the bride and groom gather at the entrance of the wedding hall, sing, clap, unleash their ululations 'zaghareet,' and make a whole lot of joyous noise in celebration of the newlyweds.





* From Ammon News Arabic by Banan Malkawi