The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1890-09-13
AT A HINDO0 WEDDING.
Queer and Tiresome Ceremonlals
Before the Knot Is Firmly
Tied.

AS 1t was growing late we felt that
we had waited long enough, and pre-
pared to proceed brideward. This
seemed to be the signal for a new de-
parture, and a procession was again
formed. At the brides house a few
changes had been made, but a
schoreen or marriage hall had been
formed by placing at each Of the four
corners of a square e~arthenware wa
ter vessels, one above the other, and
held in position by supports of bam-
boo. In the centre was the sacred
fire. Hardly had we arrived when
everybody took seats. The priests
performed fire sacrifices before
them, and fastened the boys scarf TO
the marriage veil of the girl. The
wur mala, or marriage garland, COM
posed 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
commenced a series of performances,
in which the ''bridegroomfs mother
in-law" was the principal actor.
First a great platter of food was
brought, which the 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, bride
groom's mother-in-lawn 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 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 sing
ers on our side of the ''choree,n
seemed to be firing challenges at the
officiating priest, and he to be reply
ing to her in an expostulatorY man
ner. Then the brass bands would be-
gin, 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
rice had been arranged somewhat in
the form of the letter x, which is a
mystic symbol used in religious cere-
monies from a very remote period and
signifying success and happiness.
Into the angles of the cross red
powder was s%prinkled 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 asif 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 OIL three kinds of meal. Ghee, or
clarified butter, being put upon the
flour the officiating oma or the
s'bridegroom's mother-in-lawn pro-
ceeded to stir it with her hand and to
make a kind of dough, of which BRIDE
r OOl OAANAS3 In RI1CSI
each took a little and dropped it 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 a
p%orcupine and he were afraid OF the
quilts, they proceeded around the
'choree,n guided by the priest, and
pausing at each of the four columns
of earthenware pots, where appropri-
ate signs of worship were made. Sing
ing. gesticulation and powdering fol-
lowed. -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 mar
rage.
On the fourth return bride and
groom, now husband and wife, ex-
changed their seats, and then came
congratulations. Almost all the fe-
male 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.-Sdn Francisco Bulletin.
Monarchs and Their Crowns.