The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1890-12-12
A HINDOO WEDDING.
Account Of n Marriage in High
Lifo at Bombay.
strange Nuptials Of the BrahmIns-oueer
Jeweiry and Ornaments Worn by the
Bridc-The 1Iothcr-in- Law
Important Factor.

An interesting description OF a HindOo
welding written by Sarah n Uamliu
from bombay, appears in a recent issue
81 the san Francisco Bulletin and from
IL the following extract is taken:
AS it was growing late VIC felt that we
ha1 waited long enough and prepared
to proceed brideward. This seemed 10
be tho signal for a new departure, and
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 carthenware
water vessels, one above the the other,
and held in position by supports Of bam-
boo In the 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 side 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 the women sang nuptial
hymns in honor of the gods Krishna and
Ram, and then commenced a series of
new performances in which the bride
groom's mother-in-law" was the princi-
pal actor.
First a 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.
Rcd powder was put upon the forehead
OF D. n again and again. not only by
priest. bridegroom motber-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 and feet Of bride
and groom were rubbed with red
powder. which is an emblem of pros
perry. anointed with oil and washed
with water Hands were made TO touch
each other many times, and toes touch
toes. Wo could see that the brides
little brown feet were heavy with toe
rings, whose pendants half-cOvcrcd the
feet, and the. palmer toe-rings the
mother was constantly removing from
one foot TO the other. Louder and
louder grow the nuptial songs. and one
high voiced woman, the leader of the
singers on our side Of the "choree,"
seemed to he firing challenges at the
officiating priest, and he TO be replying
TO her i'm an cXpostulat0ry manner.
Then the brass bands would begin. play
= moment and stop; never 10y any ac-
C4uCut in harmony As the noise sub
sided Tor a time an immense brass
platter was brought whereupou rice had
been arranged somewhat in the form Of
tho letter y, which is q mystic symbol
used in religious ceremonies from re-
mote period and sIgnifviug success and
happiness.
Into the angles Of the cross red pow
der was sprinkicd by the priest, and
surrounding friends began to throw
copper coins upon it. They seemed 70
be tossing for tho fortunes of the young
couple, one of whom, who seemed so
weary and disgustcd and half-biinIed
by the smoke. was repeatedly yawning
and looking around, IS if 10 ask if re-
lief would ever como, while he was
nearly roasted by the fire, so near which
he was obliged to sit. y pan was
brought in at this part of the proceed
ings, in which were two or three kinds
of meal. Ghee. or clarified butter be-
ing put upon the -four. the officiating
NbI4LHs OF llt D4lltETOOll ) luOLler-
in-law," proceeded to stir it with her
hand and TO make kind OF dough. of
which bridegroom, bride, moLher-in-law
and priest each took a little and
dropped on the fire, which was now
burning brightly.
Finally, bride and groom arose. and
he, with one arm around her neck, en-
bracinG her as though she were por-
cupine and he were afraid of the quills.
they proceeded around the "choree."
guided by the priest and pausing at
each of the four columns of earthen-
ware pots, whore appropriate signs of
worship were made. Singing. gesticu-
latiOn and powdering followed. and, as
they sat again, the sacred betel-leaf
was given TO each, and they placed it
upon the fire. -Four times they made
the circumambulation, 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-
tions. 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.