It was customary for newly wed couples to seek the blessings of a holy man, who was seated inside the Pakhlavan Mahmoud Mausoleum. He would chant some incantations, some of which are from the Quran, together with the couple's family. The walkway to the entrance was lined with an unrelenting procession of brides and grooms - not only from Khiva, but from surrounding towns. This being a Saturday, it seemed as if half the town was getting married.