Imilchil: Marriage Festival

Between 20 and September 22 of each year is held the moussem engagement to Imichil in Aït Hdiddou tribes. An event celebrated until today in the tradition of Moroccan wedding and gives the opportunity to perpetuate rites dating back a long time in the history of the region and in order to preserve this cultural heritage to promote the traditions and the customs of local tribes and participate in the development of mountain tourism. At the turn of this moussem, several activities are planned in the program including performances of song and dance, a road race and a competition of chanting the Quoran.
Moussem dates back to the period when the nomads of the Atlas region would meet annually to exchange goods and to celebrate the engagement of young people from different tribes in the area. The first day of the event is Friday and it is also the day of the bazaar for the sale of livestock, while Saturday is dedicated to the sale of food and necessities, while Sunday is devoted to festivities, music and folk dancing.
Imichil overlooks two lakes which are a legend in the region. The isli represents the bridegroom while the one who made him Tilsit face represents the bride. They symbolize the tragic love of a girl of the tribe Ait Yaaza and a young man from a tribe of Ait Ibrahim whose love was thwarted by members of their respective tribes who were rivals and whose hostilities separated lovebirds whose tears have made the twin lakes Isli and Tilsit where they eventually drown. The families of these young people heartfelt repentance and seeking to have decided to allow young people to choose mutually celebrating their engagement during a moussem.

Far from the modern large cities, the moussem Imichil respects Moroccan Amazigh traditions in their detail, especially through the celebration of tribal collective marriages.

Once a year, the youth of the region meet and mutually choose to celebrate their union in a large mass wedding, out of a large Berber tent where officiate adouls. The youth meeting is a local custom called "Taqerfiyt" which gives the possibility to the young man to see the girl without any opposition from their families.

On the occasion, young marriage age in girls wear traditional clothes of the region designed in the Berber style with melhfa, sort of plaid thrown over the shoulders or which one surrounds the waist. They used to put some of Kohl on the eyes, and the sewak used to tint the gums and whiten teeth without forgetting a little red on the cheeks. From their side the young men are adorned with traditional djellaba and turban as is the custom Moroccan particularly in rustic areas.

Imichil through its engagement moussem has preserved intact the customs and Moroccan customs and give the region international radiation through a annual event that attracts tourists and visitors from around the world.