The Bossier banner., 1883-05-24

unInoIiISu AUliltH. NluONS, aIaS! GHere
are only too many; for second marriages
with them are prevented by religious
laws and the equally strong rules OF
caste.
When Hindoo youth attains the age
of seventeen or eighteen years, the
father looks about among the numerous
families of his friends and acquaintances
for an eligible bride for his son. But
! should his efforts be unsuccessful. the
services of the ghatucks, or professional
match-makers, are called in. They
| present TO him the names of such fami-
lies of equal or inferior caste as they
know contain marriageable daugh-
tiers, and whose charms they dwell upon
and commend with a warmth and glow
OF description in proportion to the fee
promised them by the girls parents for
the happy consummation of her marri-
age. When their respective merits have
been considered and duly weighed, and
selection has been made, searching
inquiries are instituted by the father
concerning the unblemished caste of the
girls family, her personal beauty and
disposition, the social standing, means
and responsibility of herpeople. Should
they be found unobieetionable, formal
request is made on behalf of the son for
the girls hand in marriage, and GER
tain dowry, which is minutely stipu-
lated, and conditions based upon the
assumed or estimated wealth of the
brides family, in addition to sum of
money. Certain articles of jewelry es-
sential to the proper adornment of
Hindoo female, brass ornaments. uten-
sis and household goods, are demanded.
When the list is presented, the girls
father endeavors to have it reduced as
much as possible. The terms being
finally arranged, formal agreement is
signed by the parents, the Hindoo al
manae consulted, and an auspicious day
selected for the ceremony.
A day or two prior to this event. the
bridegroom sends to the bride his first
presents, consisting usually of piece
of Dacca or Benares cloth, an article of
Jewelry or ornament, perfumery, milk,
fruit, etc., and a garland of flowers. On
the marriage day the groom rises be-
times, bathes with religious ceremony
at the Ganges bank, and, instead of his
usually white clothing, dons a garb of
red, the color superstitiously regarded
by the Hindoos as a symbol of JOY.
The wedding Invariably occurs at
night. Having tasted the entire day.
and performed the many petty cere-
monies dictated by his religion and the
domlnationof caste. he, as the evening
approaches, enters a carriage or palan-
quin, and in the center of a numerous
procession of torchbearers, headed by
band of musicians, amid the shouts and
singing of friends and the explosion of
fireworks, proceeds to the residence of
his bride.
The decorations of the house, the EN-.
bellishments of tinsel and profusion of
flowers, the red clothing of the servants
bespeak the gayety of theoccasion. The
bridegroom on entering is conducted to
the hall above and seated upon a mat
of red, while sweetmeats and betel are
distributed throughout the household
tie is then taken to the chamber of
prayer below, where the formal cere-
mony takes place. Here are arranged
the articles composing the dowry of the
bride. In their midst the groom is seat
ed, and the child-bride enters. she. too
clothed in red and heavily yelled. She
is seated opposite. Professional genealo-
gists present read the genealogical
table OF either family, dwelling (per-
haps mere romancing) upon the meri-
torious acts of each generation.
When this long and tedious task
IS completed, the officiating priest
arises, and, approaching the groom.
places in his hand few blades of grass.
upon which, as he recites PRAYER. he
pours water from the holy river Ganges.
The groom's hand is then placed in a
basin OF the same liquid, the brides /
hand is placed in his, and the priest
unites them with garland of flowers.
A short prayer is then recited, the
brides father advances, breaks the knot
o. flowers, sprinkles water upon them.
A red cloth is then placed over their
heads. the brides veil is dropped, and
husband and wife gaze upon each other
TOR the tfTst time inlkeir hues. They are
then taken to the zenana, where the re-
OF the night is passed by the 7
entire household in feastine. sinoipp [
and jesting. This terminates the firsf /
ceremony. The young husband returns T
o his own home thefollowing morning,
eaving his girl-wife at her parents t
nome. With the exception of an occa-
'ional call, the husband does not again
zee his wife until the final and less
ormal ceremony, performed when the
wife reaches her thirteenth year. and
'nters his home as wife in reality.
The injurious consequences Of early
marriages among the Hindoos are only
90 plainly seen inthe weak constitution
4 the offspring and premature decay of
he mother. As an example illustrating
he extent to which it is carried in lower
5engal, it is not by any means an un-
ommon thing for young man to be-
ome grandfather at the early aoe of
wenty eight or thirty.
The expense of an ordinary Hindoo
Wedding varies from $500 to 81, ,O0O-a
arge expenditure, indeed, for a family
moderate means, frequently resulting
an embarrassing family debt, which
equires years to liquidate. Cor. Boston
Transcript
One night lately middle-aged man
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