The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1881-01-13
A Hindoo Wedding...Young Brides and
BridegrOOms.

A Hindoo Wedding...Young Brides and
BridegroOms.
The Hindoo's bane is his early mar
riage. When he is of the tender age of
five or six years the first ceremony, or
betrothal, are enacted with great splen-
dor. And when he is about twelve the
final marriage takes place. The choice
of a wife does not rest with the man,
nor in fact have the contracting parties
ANYTHING to do with the marriage. From
the time boy is born. which, by the
way, is matter of great rejoicing. moth
ing Is spoken or thought of except that
which concerns his future wife. The
father casts about him for a suitable
connection, and having settled upon a
certain family negotiations are at once
opened. Money is, of course, the guild
ing spirit throughout, and the price in
the shape of jewels, cattle, land or val
uables is exhaustively discussed, some
times with a zeal bordering upon the
ridiculous. The little maiden is natur-
ally too young to take part in the dis
cussion, and the only stipulation re-
quired as to her personal charms is that
she be neither blind nor lame. Ii by
any chance the damsel becomes thus
afflicted after the conclusion of the con-
tract, the father of the bridegroom has
to remain by his contract. The Hindoo
never dreams of love. 1t is not IN his
composition. He loves his eldest son,
but then his affection is simply selfish
one; for the Hindoo faith declares
that no man can enter heaven un-
less his son attend his obsequies.
His wife is not companion. She is
only a slave and the mother of his chill
dren. For that reason, and for naught
else, is her presence tolerated in the
house. Among the natives in India there
is no courtship. The first time an ex-
pectant bridegroom sees his wife is on
the night of his final betrothal. Then
for the first time he learns her name.
The marriage ceremony of an eldest
son is a season of universal merriment.
The festivities last for about a month;
and many a marriage entirely ruins
prosperous and business men, as well as
landholders and the better: oloegoeg
raiats. Anything t1&e 91nye 49, -
tAs216H0ef OF u4tGzD{fE1n1oDn u
- sins1 Su6 s4tefallY.zec
Bb5& Aic,.l1 ~!
6Gpret 00u9 1Of t40 fostfv-
O. -. 6Ukl6uS large ShamidnaS, or
Una, open at the sides, are pitched in
vacant spaces, the ground is covered
with durTies, or carpets of native man.
ufacture. Frames for letting off fire.
works are placed in front of the tents
and pits in which to explode crackers
are prepared. The bridegroom's pal
ankin or litter is blaze of gold, tinsel,
scarlet and purple. This extraordinary
open litter is carried by men, as a shaft
projects from the back and forepart OF
the bed. In it sits the bridegroom. He
is gayly clad and looks frightened. He
is Surrounded by lookers-On, musicians.
and, if at night, by torch-bearers with
flaming fire poles and lanterns. The
music is tho enlivening feature OF the
procession. With the Hindoo melody
has no chance; his only desire is noise.
The tom-tom or drum is an especial ia.
vorite with the natives of Hindostan.
1t is unlike the drum used by Europeans
In shape it resembles an egg covered
with tight goat parchment. No sticks
are used in beating, but laundering
"tom-tom is maintained by striking
with the open palm the villanous parch
ment. Then many of the musical party
uldUttgc W ScCuIc db duCllOhS ooluC hh
cient instruments belonging to regi
whole night is spent by the bridegroom
in parading the village, or as is more
POLITICALLY known as visiting. The lit
tie village turns out in honor of the oc
casion, and much money is spent by thu
unhappy sponsors over the festivities
Perhaps after two nights have beer
wasted in this idiotic manner, the dane
| ing and feasting commences. Among
the many scandalous customs of tn,
Europeans, our dances are considered
by Hindoos as the most indecent
| When the natives first see an Englisl
ballroom they blush in spite of them
selves at what they consider flagran
outrages Of honor and decency. Nativ
dances, or nduches, as they are termed
are performed by q certain class o
women. These are not necessarily bad
many of them are women of grea
wealth, as a successful ddnse1Se is yer.
soon able to realize a fortune by tn
curious figures she postures and the un
musically nasal songs she sings. Lat
in the night the assembled guest
gather under the Shdnlidna and watc
the quaint evolutions of their favorit
"ltan." The place must be brilliantl
lighted; thousands of tiny, fiickerin
oil lamps are placed in odd inches. G
are suspended from the ceiling. Ch
nese or native lanterns add their bri
liancy to the festive scene. l wa
present-at one of the grandest nGutch,
ever held in Allahabad. The place wa
crowded with natives of the bette
classes, and all the European swells {
Allahabad were invited to the ente
tainment. Champagne flowed ik
water. and splendid supper, ordere
from the hotel, was set before the hui
cry and we'll pleased guests. This wi
give some idea that the native, whe
be is earnest about entertaining, dot
not act meanly.-Madras Letter TO Sd
Francisco Chronicle.