The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-09-07
A Maharai Marriage in India.
TIE BRIDE A CHILD TBS YEARS OLD.


An Indian paper describes singular mar.
riage which took place in Bombay, in June;-
'ChImunlaljee Maharaj long past the mert;
dian of life, has taken unto himself as second
wife girl ten years of age, hrs first vile being
alive. On Monday, the 10th of June, the Ma
halaj's wedding day, the spirit OF Joy and en-
thuslasm that pervaded the Vyshunov commu'
nifty fol- some days preceding knew no bounds.
Early that afternoon when the marriage pro-
ccssion was TO move about, men, women, and
children, pedecked in holiday attire ami rows
of carriages thronged The principal thorough
fares leading to BhooleshWur. Flom the Moom'
badevi chowkey to the entrance OF the Mana
rails residence, opposite the Portuguese church,
moved dense crowd, blocking the entire
road, while every window and verandah was
crowded with spectators. They had been in
yited there by other Maharajs, who are at pre-.
sent the guests OF Chimunlaljee, and who induced
the Vyshunovs TO attend the temples in which
each was by Establishment or threat induced to
subscribe something to make purse for p1esen-
tation to Chimunlaliee on the occasion of his
wedding. That day Chimuulaljee sat in his own
temple with q wealth of smiles upon his face,
and wed with each other in offering at his feet
presents of money, jewels, and clothes.
In the afternoon gorgeous procession
moved from the temple, preceded by long liue
OF tom-toms, cymbals, native drums, etc, OF
children riding horses decked with silver appen-
Gages, OF carriages drawn each by a pair of
horses, in which sat other Maharajs in their
gaudiest dresses, with pearl and diamond neck
laces on their persons, and gold and silver
wands in their hands, taking pride in display
ing their lips made vermillon.like with the
JUICE OF pdnso pdree, of which their jaws were
1ull. In the midst of the procession was Chi
munlaljee himself. the 'cynosure of all eyes,
bestrdng horse LED by two OF the wealthiest
Bhatta mel chants. He was followed by mass
of men and women, pressing onwards in their
eagerness to have look at the bridegroom at
every possible turn. In this way the procession
passed along the Marwaree Bazaar, the Chowk-
see Bazaar, Withulwaddy and Ramwaddy before
they reached a garden, in which the bride and
her relatives were aCCOm0 OUatGI.
"The scene OF hubbub and confusion that pre-
vailed there is said to have been almost ndescri-
babe-a narrow space that could not contain a
portion of the anxious crowds which poured in.
Many clambered up posts, on the tops OF sheds
| and houses, to have glance at the bridal party.
In the middle OF the compound was raised tem-
polary pavilion, under which were placed two
huge baskets containing rice, In each of which
sat the bride and the bridegroom. The Brah-
minis muttered ncantations, aud while on one
side presents poured in at the feet of the bride
groom, on the other merclless jdhpdteeGs (the
ushers of the Maharajs temples) whipped away
with their dreaded cords, men, women, and
children, who could find no standing place. Yet
neither the rain nor the lashes of the cords could
check the blind zeal of tue Vyshunovs, who
rushed again to the places from which they were
driven away.
"lhe bride was the daughter of poor Te-
linga Brahmin of Sholapore, who received Rs.
| 10000 for giving the girl in marriage. The
Maharajs are considered as outcasts, and nc
| Brahmin gives his daughter in marriage with
! lutul WllnOuI IdlSc compensation III uOuSy, ,
as he and his family are outcasted immediately
| after the marriage. For several days after his
! wedding Chimunlaijee engaged dancing girls to
| dance and sing at his house for the amuse ment
| of his guests-a proceeding, says our contempo-
rary, which any minister OF religion would be
ashamed of. But who paid the large sums
| expended On Chimunlaljee's marriage with this
| girl of ten years? Not penny came out of his
| pocket, althOugo he is reputed to be rich. Every
| fraction of it was drawn fLom his blind devo.
tees. For days before the marriage he acted
| the intruder at every house occupied by
Vyshuvoys, on the pretense of Offering the
spiritual advice. 1t was the custom Of the
MahaIajs not to go to any place unless invited
to do so; but under the guise of greater
regard than the rest of his brethren for the spi.
ritual welfare of his flock, this pous mau
levied black mail in every street In chawls
occupied by a large number of tenants he
moved from room TO room, standing very
Beelzebub at the threshold of every door a
which he knocked in succession. 1t is esti-
mated that by this system of begging Chimun
laljee collected 10000 rupees. The subscription:
at the temples amounted to about 25, 900 rupees
The writer of the account in the Guzeratet
paper commends the Vyshunov community tC
lay TO heart the moral of it, and to unite K
expel the Maharais from Bombay"