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Mukhtar Ahmad in Srinagar
On June 9, former chairman of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, would tie the knot with Shazia Masoodi, a United States born Kashmiri.
Masoodi traces her roots to Khrew village, near the saffron-producing town of Pampore in south Kashmir.
Her father is a doctor settled in the US for over two decades.
Shazia is presently busy doing her masters in Islamic studies from a university in Buffalo.
Umar's elder sister is believed to have played matchmaker and chosen Shazia.
The couple was engaged last year at Shazia's uncle's house in Sanant Nagar locality of Srinagar in a simple function privy only to religious elders and close relatives.
The Nikah (Quranic marriage) agreement was read and signed by Syed Anzar Shah Kashmir, rector of Darul Aloom Deoband, at the engagement ceremony.
A family friend told rediff.com said that only close friends and relatives, not numbering more than eleven, would accompany Mirwaiz when he leaves for Shazia's uncle's residence to bring Shazia home.
After marriage, the couple is proceeding 'outside India' for an extended honeymoon, he said.
Umar ascended his father's (Maulvi Mohammed Farooq) ceremonial post after his brutal assassination by militants in 1990.
Elaborate arrangements have already been made for the marriage with the traditional marriage feast to be hosted at the groom's house on June 10.
Kashmir's mouth-watering cuisine -- Wazwan -- would be served during the feast. The best local chefs from downtown Srinagar have been summoned to cook the delicacies.
Umar, who had his schooling in a local Christian missionary school, is known to be fond of jeans, jackets and perfumes.
He is an Internet addict and spends hours surfing. He also has a liking for hi-tech gadgets from cell phones to CD players.
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