Shai-ku-shai

Among the Jinn, there are generally two types of families: 1) the standard nuclear arrangement following the custom of polyandry and 2) two males who mate for life in an exclusive one-time-only relationship called shai-ku-shai, which loosely translated means "soul mate".  The literal translation is "heart in heart."  Such unions are sacred to the Jinn and the partners are revered by the general populace. They do not function as priests but have a somewhat similar role, in that they are often asked for blessings by both children and adults, strangers and family. Because they have chosen each other above all others, eschewing a reproductive role, it is believed that this sacrifice makes them stronger in spirit than others of their race, closer to the Divine.

It is possible for shai-ku-shai to raise children, though they do not typically adopt children outside their own bloodline. Only in the event of a family tragedy do they act as parents. Such events are rare.

When a prospective couple chooses to become shai-ku-shai, the wedding ritual takes place at a sacred spring. To test their bond, the couple are escorted to the water's edge, passing by several shai-ku-shai who have lost their mates as a reminder of the potential cost of this pairing. The couple are blindfolded and led into the water where they must swim among numerous other males and attempt to locate each other by touch alone. When they believe they have done so, they kiss. If they are not successful in finding the correct partner, the ceremony ends. If they are successful, they exit the water together.

The next step may take as long as four or five hours. The couple grasp each other, forearm to forearm, right upon left arm, and then an artist applies an intricate design of multicolored pastes (similar to Indian henna) to their skin from elbow to fingertip. Once the design is applied, the couple then dip the opposite palms into the paste and place their hand print over their mate's chest between the two hearts.  The paste is then washed off the hand to prevent coloring.  The artist then activates the permanent coloring properties of the paste compound on both arms and chests with a special ultraviolet light. When the process is complete, the residue is washed off and the brilliantly colored design revealed. The area where the husbands grasped each other creates a negative space in the intricate design that only his mate's hand can fill and match. This recognizable inking pattern sets the shai-ku-shai apart from other Jinn.