The Dickinson press., 1890-09-13
A HINDOO MARRIAGE
QUEER BRAHMlN NUPTlALS At A
CEREMONY AT BOMBAY.

QUEER BRAHMlN NUPTlALS AT A
= CEREMONY AT BOMBAY.
-
The Mother-in-Law as Important a Fac
tor in Such Affairs rs She Is In This
Country-How a Wedding Is Solemn
: izsd-Lavish Uso of Colorcd Powder.
AS it was growing late we felt that we
had waited long enough, and prepared
to proceed brideward. This seemed to
be the signal for a departure, and a
procession was again formed. At the
brides house few changes had been
made, but a 'choree" or marriage hall
had been formed by placing Mt each Of
the four orner of a square earthen-
ware water vessels, n above the other,
and held in position by supports of bam-
boo. In the center was the sacred fire.
Hardly had we arrived when everybody
took seats. The priests performed ''fre
sacrifice" before them, and fastened the
boys scarf to the marriage veil of the
girl. The whr mala, or marriage gar
land, composed of t%wenty-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
a series of performances in which the
"bridegroom's motherin-law" was the
principal actor.
MOTHER-IN-LAw TAKES A HAND.
First a great platter of food was
brought, which tho 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 and again was the inn
mense platter resembling q paint shop
with its various powders brought forth.
Hands and feet of bride and groom We're
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 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
the nuptial songs, and one high voiced
woman, the leader of the singers on our
side of the "choree," seemed to be firing
challenges at the officiating priest, and
he to be replying to her in al cxpostu-
latory manner. Then the brass bands
would begin, play a moment and stop,
never by any accident in harmony. AS
the noise subsidized for a time an immense
brass platter was brought whereupon
nice had been arranged somewhat in the
form of the letter X, which is n mystic
symbol used in religious ceremonies
from q 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,
n of whom, who seemed so weary and
disguised and half blinded by the smoke,
was repeatedly yawning and looking
around as if to ask if relief 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
proceedings in which were two or three
kinds of meal. Ghee, or clarified butter,
being put upon the flour the officiating
woman or the ''bridegroom's mother-in-
law" proceeded to Stir it with her hand
and to make a kind of dough, of which
bridegroom, bride, mother-in-law and
priest each took a little and dropped on
thefire, which was now burning brightly.
Finally bride and groom arose, and he,
with n arm around her neck, embrace
ing her as though she were a %porcupine
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 e~arthenware pots, where
appropriate signs of worship were made.
Singing, g%esticulation 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 brides
hand. and stepping behind her embraced
her from behind. We were told that
this was the ena.-Sarah D. Hamlin in
San Francisco Bulletin.