Daily independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 188?-1915, 1890-09-10
a HINDOO WEDDING.
Account OF o Marriage IN HiEh
I.tfe ut Bombay.

AN interesting oCOOe1ptlOn OF u1nOOO
wedding, written by Sarah ID. Harllin
from bombay, appears in recent issue
OF tho San Francisco Bulletin, and from
1t tho following extract 10 taken:
Asitwas growing late VIC fclt that wo
had waitcd long enough and prepared
to proceed bridoward. This seemed to
DO tho signal for new departure, and a
procession was again formed. At tho
brides house few changcs had bcen
made, but ~ ''chorcc'' or marriage hall
had boon formed by placing ut each Of
tho four corners Of q square cnrthenwarc
water vessels, ono above tho the other,
and held in position by supports of bam-
boo. In tho confer was tho sacred fro.
Hardly had wo arrived whom ovory
body took seats AZ before. though tho
cashmeru-3hawlod father did not appear,
and tho bride AID groom no longor sat
opposite each other, but side by side.
Tho priests performed ..fire sacrifice"
before thor and fastened tho boys scarf
to the marriage vail Of tho girl. Tho
wur mala, or marriage garland, COM
posed of twcnty-four strings of rcd cot
ton, was hung around their nccks, their
hands wcro again joined beneath tho
dirty scarf. tho women sang nuptial
hymns i'll honor Of tho rods Krishna and
Ram, and then commenced series of
now performances in which tho bride
grooms lnothcr-in-l;:w'' was tho priuci-
pal actor.
First great platter of food was
brought, which tho raothor presented to
:'"r daughter. who first gave it to her
bridegroom, and h" then helped her.
Red powder was put upon tho forehead
OF both again and again, not only by
priest, 'bridcgroor1's mothcr-in-law,"
and tho littlo brother. but 10y humorous
female friends. Again and again was
Ito immense platter, resembling
paint-shop with its various powders,
brought forth. Hands and feet of bride
and groom wero rubbed with rcd
powder, which il an cu5lcm of pros
pcrity, anointcd with oil and washed
with water. LANDS wcro made to touch
each other many times, and toes couch
toes. We could SEQ that tho brides
little brown feet wcro heavy with toe
rings, whose pcndnnt3 half-covcrcd tho
feet, and tho palmer toQ-rings the
mother was constantly removing FROM
ono foot to tho othor. Louder and
louder grow tho nuptial songs. and ono
h'gh-voiccd woman, tho lcador of tho
singers on our sido OF tho ''choroc,"
seemed to DO firing challenges ut tho
officiating priest, and ho to BIO replying
to her in an cSpostulatory manncr.
Then tho brass bands would begin, play
q moment AID stop; never by any &C
cidcnt II harmony. AZ tho noisc sub
sided for . time M immense brass
platter was brought whoroupon rico had
been arranged somewhat III tho form OF
tho letter y, which is mystic aymbol
used IT lol;r-;r.e ".v--~r- - n, ~, RI.
r1oto pcrlCu ant, s4,i4Ity4nS SUCCESS and
happiness.
Into the angles Of tho cross rcd pow
der was sprinkicd by the priest, and
surrounding friends began to throw
copper coins upon it. They seemed to
be tossing for tho fortunes of tho young
couple, oIo Of whom, who seemed SO
weary and disgustcd and hclG-bl;ndcd
by tho smoke, was repeatedly yawning
end looking around, 40 if to ask if rc-
lief would cvcr como, whilo ho wao
nearly roasted by tho fire, SO near which
no was obliged to sit. A pan was
brought IL Gt this part OF tho proceed
inGs, in which were two or thrcc kinda
Of meal. Chico, or clarified buttcr, be-
ing put upon tho -four, tho officiating
woman, OF tho ''bridcsrooms mother
in-law,' proceeded to stir it with hor
hand end to Eialo q Kind Of dough, OF
which Dridcgrooin, bride, raotber-in-law
end priost each took u ltttlo and
cropped on tho fire, which was now
burning brightly.
Finally, bride and groom arose, and
he, with ono arm around hcr neck, cra-
braciDE her as though sho wcro por-
curinc and he were afraid of tho 1uills,
they proceeded around tho ''chorec,"
guided by tho priest and pausing ut
each OF the four columns OF cartbcn-
waro rots, whore appropriate signs OF.
Worship wcro made. Singing, Ccuticu-
iation and powderlug followed, and, 90
they cat again, tho sacred botcl-lcaf