The remote mountain village of Ribnovo in southwest Bulgaria has kept its traditional winter marriage ceremony alive despite decades of Communist persecution, followed by poverty that forced many men to seek work abroad.
The wedding ritual was resurrected with vigour among the Pomaks -- Slavs who converted to Islam under Ottoman rule.
The highlight of the ceremony is the painting of the bride's face, where in a private rite open only to female in-laws, her face is covered in thick, chalky white paint and decorated with colourful sequins.
Please click on the image for a better look at the ceremony.
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IMAGE: Bride Kimile Avdinova has makeup applied to her face during her wedding ceremony in the village of Ribnovo.
All photographs: Stoyan Nenov/Reuters
IMAGE: Kimile Avdinova and her groom Kadri Kichukov walk outside her house during their wedding ceremony.
IMAGE: Kimile and Kadri dance during their wedding ceremony.
IMAGE: Kimile and Kadri pose in front of their dowry.
IMAGE: Kimile and Kadri welcome guests to their wedding.
Photographs curated by Manisha Kotian/Rediff.com
Feature Presentation: Ashish Narsale/Rediff.com
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