Cheer flourishes with traditional Lebanese weddings in Bekaa even under Israeli army's threat

BAALBEK, LEBANON - NOVEMBER 05: While Israeli aerial bombardment continues in various parts of the Bekaa Valley in eastern Lebanon, a couple celebrated their marriage in the town of Bar Elias in the Zahle district. Despite the ongoing conflict in Lebanon's southern and eastern regions, citizens strive to maintain some normalcy in their lives. As Baalbek in the Bekaa Valley in eastern Lebanon came under heavy Israeli shelling, a traditional Lebanese wedding took place in Bar Elias, just a half-hour drive from the Bekaa Valley. The street entrances were blocked off for the occasion. Enise and Mohammed tied the knot, surrounded by their relatives who shared in their happiness, symbolically expressing hope with the sentiment, "Even if the war continues, we need to live our normal lives." Guests attempted to forget the turmoil brought by the conflict, easing their anxieties with folk dances. At the wedding, the “Damascus Melodies Group” led the celebrations, first accompanying the groom to the stage with drums and zurna, then lifting him onto their shoulders—a tradition that is a staple of Lebanese weddings. Mahir Shula, a member of the Damascus Melodies Group and a performer of local folk dances, spoke to Anadolu about the wedding in Bar Ilyas. "Everything that comes from God is beautiful; there is no escape from what is written in fate," Shula remarked, emphasizing that a wedding, once initiated, must be completed under any circumstances. (Footage by Ramiz Dallah/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)