The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1890-09-14
A HINDO0 WEDDING.
Account OF a Marriage in High
Life at Bombay.
Strange Nuptiais of the Brahmlny-ouoer
Jewelry and Ornaments Worn by tho
Brlde-Thc Mother-in-Law IN
Important Factor.

An interesting description of Hindoc
s;adding, written by Sarah d. Hamlir
from Bombay, appears in q recent issue
{. of the San Francisco Bulletin, and from
it the following extract is taken:
AS it was growing late we felt that VIC
had waited long enough and prepared
to proceed brideward. This seemed tc
be the signal for new departure, and
procession was again formed. At the
brides house few changes had been
made, but a 'choree" or marriage hall
/ had been formed by placing at each Of
the four corners of q square earthenware
water vessels. one above the the other,
and held in position by supports of BAN,
/ boo. In tho center was the sacred fire.
Hardly had we arrived when every
| body took seats as before, though the
cashmere-shawled father did not appear,
and the bride and groom no longer sat
opposite each other, but sldo by side.
The priests performed fire sacrifice
before them and fastened the boys scarf
to the marriage vail of the girl. The
wur mala, or marriage garland, COM
posed of twenty-four strings of red cot
ton, was hung around their necks, their
hands were again joined beneath the
dirty scarf, tho women sang nuptial
hymns in honor of the gods krishna and
Ram, and then commenced 4 series OF
new performances in which the bride
groom's mother-in-law" was the princi-
pal actor
First q great platter OF food was
brought, which the mother presented to
her daughter. who first gave 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, '.bridcgroom'S mother-in-law,
and the little brother, but by numerous
female friends. Again and again was
the immense platter, resembling a
paint-shop with its various powders,
brought forth. Hands aud feet of bride
and groom were rubbed with red
powder, which is an emblem OF pros
pert1y, anointed with Oil and washed
with water. Hands were made TO 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-covercd the
feet, and the palmer toe-rings the
mother was constantly removing from
one foot to the other. Louder and
louder grew the nuptial songs, and one
'high-voiced woman, the leader Of the
singers on our side OF the "chorce, u
seemed to be firing challenges at the
officiating priest, and he to be replying
to her in IN postetiatJi5 manner.
Then the brass bands would beEjn, play
moment and stop: never by aIeN ac-
cident in harmony. As the noise sobs
sided for time an immense brass
platter was brought whereupon rice had
been arranged somewhat in the form Of
the letter Y, which is mystic symbol
used in religious ceremonies from re-
mote period and signifving success and
happiness.
Into the angles Of the cross red pow
der was sprinkled by the priest. and
surrounding friends began to throw
copper coins upon it. They seemed to
be tossing for the fortunes of the young
couple, one OF whom, who seemed so
weary and disguised and half-blinded
By the smoke, was repeatedly yawning
and looking around, as il 10 ask If re-
lief would ever come, while he was
nearly roasted by the fire, so near which
he was obliged to sit. "a pan was
brought in at this part OF the proceed
ings, III which were two or three kinds
OF meal. Ghee, or clarified butter, be-
ing put upon the flour, the officiating
woman, or the "bridegrooms mother
in-law," proceeded to stir it with her
hand and to make kind of dough, Of
which bridegroom, bride, mother-in-law
and priest each took q little and
dropped on the fire, which was now
burning brightly.
Finally, bride and groom arose, and
be, with one arm around her neck, en-
bracing her as though she were a por-
cupine and he were afraid Of the quilts,
they proceeded around the "choree, "
guided by the priest and pausing at
each OF the four columns of earthen-
ware pots, where appropriate signs Of
worship were made. Singing, gesticu-
lation and powdering followed, and, as
they sat again, tho sacred betel-leaf
was given to each, and they placed it
upon the fire. Four times they made
the decentralization and were told
that if by any chance this was done
only three times, it was no real mar
riage.
On the fourth return bride and groom,
now husband and wife, exchanged
their seats, and then came congratula-
lions. Almost all tho female friends
came forward and put silver rupees in
the brides hand, and, stepping behind
her, embraced her from behind. We
were told that this was the end.