The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-07-04
HTNDOO WOMEN'S HABITS
UHY they ARE NOT EASILY CON-
VERIFIED TO CHRIS TIANITY.

Life so Simple-StrenRe Ceremonies
That Occupy the Five Days of a
Wedding Celebration.
From the Chicago Tribune.
A witty writer has said that it is difficult
70 convert Hindoo woman to Christianity
and civilization, because her dress is so
comfortable and easily arranged and her
domestic life so simple. In short, her Jor-
dan is too smooth and easy to travel. She
has no practicing on the piano nor trying
Oh of tight>ftting dresses. She does not
sew nor crochet nor do drawn work; neither
/ does she knit or darn stockings. for they are
not worn. Even the "washerwoman is a
man." as our Hibernian friends might say.
When our Hindoo sister-who is of hon
orable caste-makes her toilet no visitor is
kept waiting. Her single garment, which
is forty inches wide and nine yards long, is
wrapped about her with few deXterous
twists so as to form sort of pull-back skirt
aud a surplice bodice. Better still, the
styles do not change, so much wear aud tear
Of temper is saved in this way. Some OF
the darker omplexioned Hindoo girls
try to make themselves fairer
bv the use of face wash made
Of saffron; to enhance the beauty of their
eyes by little penciling, aud their finger
tips are made rosy with henna. Palm oil is
also used to keep the braided hair in place.
In these particulars the Hindoo woman does
not form striking contrast to her civilized
sister, but in one other custom she does, and
that is sort OF tattooing done upon the
arms of the girl babies by the fond mothers.
AS the arms OF the women are usually left
uncovered some sort of adornment was con-
sdered necessary aud hence arose the
custom.
Like the famous lady of Banbury Cross,
In the nursery rhymes, our Hindoo sister
has rings on her fingers and rings on her
toes-as well as one in her nose-and wears
chains Of gold, silver, or beads according
to her station.
She is kept secluded and under restraint
all her life. She has her pets for amuse-
ment, and may bring water to the
house i'll jars balanced upon the top
of the head. She is fond of doing
this, as it gives her chance to ''see
the world" and is to her what shopping is
toa civilized maiden. But once during the
year is she free to act out herself, and that
is during the carnival of the Hoolee Armed
with crimson powder manufactured for
the occasion she pelts right and left, and
literally paints the town red. Neither the
sacred Brahmin nor the outcast pariah es-
capes her.
''Childish." you say. Well, she is but a
child-only ~ years of age, perhaps, or it
may be q year older-but she has been be-
trothed for many years and is now to be
married. She will surely be happy, too,
for all the signs are right. She was be-
trothed on April l, that most
lucky day of the most lucky
month. The path of the bridegroom
elect was not crossed by a cat or fox or SER
pent upon that day. Neither one OF the
betrothed pair heard dog howl, nor hen
crow, neither did crow alight upon the
roof. Everything went right with the
parents OF the young people; they ran across
COW at the right time, sneezed in the
right place and the gifts were most
auspicious.
The wedding ceremonies last five days.
First the bride and bridegroom sit together
on mound of earth with their faces
toward the east. Then come the
married women of their acquaintance
bearing on copper plate lamp formed
of rice paste; this is lighted, and magic
circles are made over the heads OF the
young couple. This is to avert the demon
Of jealousy. Then all the gcds and their
ancestors are solemly invited 20 the festivi-
ties, as we'll as the dead grandfathers of the
company present. In order to wipe out
any possible peccadillo of the bridegroom's
past he presents fourteen flags to the
priests, when "all is forgiven"
would like to battle in the Ganges-that is
all part of the play-and he is equipped
as pilgrim fer his journey, but proceeds a
little way when he meets his prospective
father-in-law. who entreats him to return
and he will give him his beautiful daughter
in marriage. Upon their return the
bride and bridegroom are linked together
at the wrist with a charm of saffron,
then the bridegroom has his feet washed
thrice by his father-in-law. who calls
upon many deities TO bless the young PEG
pie He invOkes by name the gods of all
degrees, the seven beatifed penitents, the
five immaculate virgins and the ancestor
gods; also the seven mountains, the eight
cardinal points. the fourteen worlds, the
woods and the seas, the year, the season,
the month, the day, the hour and the min
ute. Then the father takes the hand Of his
daughter, and, laying it in that of the
bridegroom, pourS water over the clesped
palms in the name of Vishnu. This
is the Hindoo manner of giving away the
BRIDE Nor does she go empty>handed to
her husband, for she has a piece of land. a
cow, and some amulet stones for a talisman.
The bridegroom now turns to his young
bride and says: MAY the heart which is
thine become my heart, and this heart
which is mine become thy heart" Then
they step into seven circles drawn upon
the ground, from which there is no back
ward step.
Upon the neck of our Hindoo sister is now
placed the seal Of her husband-a gold Or
nameDt suspended by chain made Of los
threads dyed in saffron. This is never re-
moved unless she becomes widow. Fire
is Immediately brought, incense thrown
upon 1T, and the bridegroom conducts the
bride around the flame three times. Next
they stand in two baskets, brought for the
purpose, and pour rice over zach others
heads until the priests cry Enough"
On the fourth day the bride sits by her hus-
band at dinner and eats from the same dish.
But never again will they sit together at a
meal Henceforth the wife will serve her
husband when he eats, taking for her share
what he chooses to leave
On the fifth day another solemn ceremony
takes place; parched rice and butter are
cast into sacred fire, and for the only time
In her life the Hindoo woman takes part in
this mystic rite. The festivities close with
torchlight procession and with feasJing,
and our Hindoo sister passes into another
phase of her humdrum existence.
well-known traveller tells us that while
polygamy is lawful among the Hindoos it
Is not agreeable, and seldom practiced ex-
cept among the very rich. A book of ad-
vice to wives is among the wedding pres
ents, and from which a few extracts are
taken, as follows:
"A woman has no other god on earth
IMAM her husband. The most excellent of
all the good works she can perform is to
CRAFTY him with the strictest obedience