Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1890-08-08
A HINDOO MARRIAGE
QUEER eRAHMiN NUPTAlS AT A
CEREMONY AT BOMBAY.
The Nother-in-Law as Important u fae-
tor la such Affairs rs She Is Ia This
CoantFy-How Wedding Is solemn

tor Ia such Affairs She Is Ia This
Coantry-How a Wedding Is solemn
= hed-Lavish Use of CoIored Powder.
As it was growing late we felt that We
had waited long enough, and prepared
t. proceed brideward. This seemed 10
be the signal for "a new departure, and a
procession WAS again formed. At the
brides house few changes had been
made, but -choree' or marriage hall
had been formed by placing at each Of
the four corners of square earthen-
ware water vessels. one above the other.
and held in position by supports of BAN
boo In the center was the sacred fire.
Hardly had we arrived when everybody
took seats. The priests performed fire
sacrifice" before them. and fastened the
boys scarf to the marriage veil of the
girl. The wur mala, or marriage gar
land, composed of twenty-four strings
of red cotton, was hung around their
necks. their hands were again joined be
meath the dirty scarf, the women sang
nuptial hymns in honor Of the gods
Krishna and Ram, and then commenced
il series of performances in which the
''bridegroom's mother-in-law" was the
principal actor.
MOTHER-IN-LAw TAKES A HAND.
First great platter of food was
brought, which the mother presented to
her daughter. who first gave Of it to her
bridegroom, and he then helped her.
Red powder was put upon the forehead
of both again and again, not only by
priest, bridegroom mother-in-law" and
the little brother, but by numerous female
friends. Again anl again was the I'M
mense platter resembling paint shop
with iis various powders brought forth.
Hands and feet OF bride and groom were
rubbed with red powder. which is an
emblem of prosperity, a1ointed with oil
and washed with water. Hands We're
made tn touch each other many times
and toes touch toes.
We could see that the brides little
brown feet were heavy with toe rings,
whose pendants half covered the foot,
and the palmer toe rings the mother
was constantly removing from one foot
to the other. Louder and louder grew
tba pnn,;al sone,s md ono rich vaicad
woman, tho Ioa1e, NJ tho ei,,,,o,s ,,,, ON.
side of the ''chorec." seemed to be firing
challenges at the Officiating priest, and
la+o,,, ,,,a,,,,c, IT,, .l,a -, III.
-, 80, ,,.,..., -, 49,, 49,.
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mo 'iic "'iSi'-s vi ,'ie 'f"s' iea i'oW'icf
was sl''i'lhieu "E t''e priest anu sur
RUNNING iiiei'1lS =, .'''i''i 10 'l,ro" copper
COINS upon It, lheN s'eiile'' 70 'e 'oss'
ING 'oF ','e fortunes Oh INC young couple,
one u " nom; wno Sts'iie', :" WEAR 'Ilt''
s!'s'e't '''i', nan o'l'.'ei " ''e si'i'lA''
WIS f1iF''tsFily ya"llihg anu ,oo"iusi
afo''ui' "s II 10 't'A Il 't''ei "oui'l ever
e''ii''' H4i0 ~ 80 ii''i4'N iuH9'7I ~ t.is
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a pm VIZ Hioui5lt ~ Ut 'iIN part OF rue
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kiiio'7 Oh ihe'u' NAee' OF ciarifel o''tter-
pe'i5 put utoh 'nt hour Tue oi'ici''t'i's
Mu,.,!H .. 11e ot'l.35ioo'n i'lolli','-ii',
law lFocei''''S' 70 S'ir y WIN her t,ah,'
,'i''. 20 iii"A9 u ,'in" oi tough - "ii'i,
pfi'e,sr"o,n' of'ie, nloVher-ln-ia" ana