The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-07-25
4 WEDDING At BOMBAY
Interesting Description Of Hindoo
Marriage Ceremony BY .
Lady.
Tho Mother-in-I.aw a. Important
Factor a. Elise
whore.
She Divides HonoFs With the Priest 1t the
Ceremony-The Queer Nuptial
Features.

An interesting description OF d1nooo
wedding, written by Sarah D. Hamlin, from
Bombay, appears in recent issue OF the
San Francisco Bulletin, and from it the fol
lowing extract is taken:
Asit was growing late We felt that We had
waited long enough. and prepared to pro
coed brideward. This seemed to DO the sig'
nal for new departure, and procession
vas again formed. At the brides house few
changes had been made, but chores" Of
marriage hall had been formed by placing
at each of the four corners Of square
earthenware water vessels, one above the
other, and held in position by supports Of
bamboo, In the center was the sacred fire,
Hardly had we arrived when everybody
took seats AZ before, though the cashmere
shawled father did not, appear, and the
bride and groom no longer sat opposite each
other, but side by side. The priest performed
s.fire sacrifice" before them and fastened
the boys scarf to the marriage veil of the
Girl. The wur mala, or marriage garland,
Composed of twenty-four strings of red cot
ton. was hung around their necks. their
hands were again joined beneath the dirty
scarf. the women sang nuptlal hymns IN
honor of the gods Krishna and Ram, and
then commenced series of new perform
ances, in which the ''bridegroom's mother
in-law," was the principal actor.
First great platter of food was brought
which the mother presented to the dauRh-
ter, 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 and
k1~4 Sr,or q
sembling a paint shop with. its var
ious powders brought forth. Hands
and feet q bride and groom were
rubbed with red powder, which is an
emblem of prosperity, 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-rinRs,
whose pendants half covered the foot, and
the palmer toe-rings the mother was con-
etantly 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 "choree,
ciatinp priest, and he TO be replying to her
in an expostulatory manner. Then the
brass bands would begin, play moment
and stop, never by any accident in harmony.
As the noise subsidized for a time and inn
mense platter was brought whereupon rice
had been rrranged somewhat in the form OF
the letter x, which is mystic symbol used
in religious ceremonies from very remote
period, and signifying success and happi-
ness.
Into the angles of the CROSS red powder
was sprlnkled by the priest, and surround
ing friends began to throw copper coins
upon it. They seemed to be tossing for the
who seemed so weary and disRusted and
hAlfsblinded by sthe smuke, WIS repeatedly
yawning and looking arc nd as if to ask if
relief would never 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 proceedings. in which
were two or three kinds of meal. Ghee, or
STARTLED butter, being put upon the -four,
The officiating woman, or the ''bridegroom's
mother-in-l 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 little and dropped
on the fire, which was now burning
brightly.
Finally bride and groom arose, and he,
with one arm around her neck, embracing
her as though she were porcupine and he
afraid of the quilts. they proceeded around
the "choree,' guided by the priest, and
pausing at each of the four columns of
ealthenware pots, where appropriate signs
OF worship We're made. Singing, gesticula-
sat again, the sacred betel laaf was given to
each, and they placed it upon the fire. Four
times they made the decentralization,
and we were told that if by any chance this
was done only three times it was no real
marriage.
On the fourth return, bride and groom,
now husband and wife, exchanged their
seats, and then came congratulations.
Almost all the 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.
Sunday Excursions.