Telegram-herald., 1890-08-16
A HINDO0 MARRIAGE
o..xws esAoasN hUPTlALS At 4
CEREMONY At EOA5%f.

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ksit was growing hsfe We fslt that We
ks.3 waited lsDg sne.isa. and prepared
= proceed bTi1ewara. Ihls seemed ~
te TIE sgnsl fer ne" dspereare, aa4 =
.reesszlon wzs again 1o1Eae6. AT the
b~se,s houss few changes Rad been
mees. bat = chores" er marriage hall
had been formed by placing e each of
The four corners of a square e&Ftaen-
ware water vessels. ore above the other.
ard held ia position BY supports Of ban
boo. IA the center Was the sacred IRE.
Hzrsly had ~ arrived when everybody
took seats. The priests performed ''Gre
sscrifee" before them, and fastened the
bows scarf 10 the Marriage veil Of the
glrl. The Wur mala. or marriage gar
land, composed o. twenty-koar strings
Of red cotton, was hung sround their
necks, their hands were again joined be
meath the dirty scarf. the women ssng
nuptial hymns In honor Of the gods
Krishna and Ram. and then commenced
series Of performances in which the
.'bridegroorns mother-in-law" was the
principal actor.
sOTHEa-IS-LAw TAKES RAND.
First q great platter Of food was
brought, which the mother presented 10
her daughter. who FIRST gave Of il 70 her
bridegroom, and he then helped her
Red powder was put upon the forehead
Of both again and again, not only by
priest, 'bridegroonl's s mother-in-law' and
the little brother, bat by numerous female
friends. Again and again was the i'm
mense platter resembling q 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 prosperity, anointed with oil
and washed with water. Hands were
made 10 touch each other many times,
and toes touch toes.
We couid 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
20 the other. Louder and louder grew
tae nuptial songs, and one nigh voiced
woman. the leader Of the singers on orr
side of the "choree," seemed 10 be firing
challenges at the officia ting priest, and
he 10 b. replying to her in an expostu-
latory manner. Then the brass bands
would begin, play moment and stop,
never by any accident in harmony. AS
the noise subsided for time an immense
brass platter was brought whereupon
rice had been arranged somewhat in the
form of the letter x, which is a mystic
symbol used in religious ceremonies
from a very remote period, and signify
/ ing success and happiness.
SONGS, GESTURES AND POWDER.
Into the angles of the cross red powder
was sprinkled by the priest, and sur
rounding friends began to throw copper
coins upon it. They seemed to be toss
ing for the fortunes OF the young couple.
one of whom, who seemed so weary and
disgusted &nd half blinded by the smoke,
was repeatedly yawning and looking
around as if to ask IL relief would ever
come, while he was nearly roasted by tho
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 clarified butter,
being put upon the -four the officiating
woman or the "bridagroOm's mother-in-
law" proceeded to stir it with her hand
-, 10. l., ,f of ,.~1,
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, embrac-
ing her as though she were a porcupine
and be were afraid of the quills, they
proceeded around the "choree," guided
by the priest, and pausing at each of the
four columns of earthenware pots, where
appropriate signs OF worship were made.
Singing, gesticulation 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 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 for
ward and put silver rupees in the bride:
hand, and stepping behind her embraced
her from behind We We're told that
this was the end.-Sarah d. Hamlin il
San Francisco Bulletin.