The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-07-30
THE MARRIAGE or A PaRSEE.
1t Is Marked by Several Curious and Ii
teresting Ceremonies.

teFesting Ceremonies
There must have been seven hundred
or eight hundred guests ;-' Id be-
fore the bridal parties made their aAi-
pearance In the center of the hall was
small, open space, around which chairs
had been placed. Several venerable
looking dasturs, or priests, dressed IN
white, stood in readiness to take part IN
the cermony, and on the table close be-
side them were trays of dry rice and
coceanuts. emblematic of plenty. Sew
eral brass trays holding rice, cocoanuts
and pan soparis, or spice packets, were
brought in on the shoulders Of servants.
Suddenly, to the sounds of the ''Eu-
rope" band, the brides party and the
bridegroom's entered from opposite
sides of the hall simultaneously.
Then there was such crushing
and pressing TO the barred win
dows of the marriage hall to catch
glimpse of the two parties. Each
party was so surrounded by friends that
it was hardly possible to see much Of
the two most important persons. Both
parties approached the space in the
middle OF the hall, across which a
white sheet was held, the bride and
bridegroom taking their seats or oppo.
site sides so that they could not see each
other. Crowds of friends trooped in,
till the hall was completely full. Thir-
teen or fourteen hundred guests were
expected, and by this time all had prob
ably arrived.
The priests began to chant the mar
rage service in the ancient Zend Ian
guage, which is not understood of the
people" The bride and bridegroom
were each furnished with a handful of
rice, and it is a matter of great excite
ment to see which first throws
this rice at the other when the
sheet which has been held up be-
tween them is suddenly withdrawn.
That one whose rice first touches the
other is supposed to possess the warm
err affections for the other. After the
sheet was withdrawn the new married
couple sat side by side, while the dasturs.
sometimes together and sometimes sep
arately, addressed long GRAFTON to
them, still in Zend, on their duties TO
each other and the world at large. All
the time that the Grafton was going on
the priests held rice in their hands and
threw several grains at time over the
young couple, apparently enforcing
each command with n shower OF rice.
While the exhortation was going on
the guests got up and walked about
and talked, and no further heed was
paid to the priests or what they said
Garlands made of jasmine buds in
terspersed with roses were then hung
around the necLs of the bride and
bridegroom till they looked as il they
were wearing boas of flowers. Then
little dabs of vermilion were placed on
the foreheads of the happy pair and
their near relations, as an outward and
visible sign of JOY and gladness at the
union.
The feast was the next feature OF the
entertainment, inSvhich everyone took
the keenest interest. Long tables with
forms on each side were placed in "a
building opening on To the garden.
Fresh banana leaves were pot at inter-
walls on the table before the guests,
each leaf measuring about two feet by
one. They looked fresh and nice and
made capital plates. One banana leaf
serves for all the courses, which are
brought round by the attendants. Cur
ries of all sorts, rice, chutnees, fresh
and dried fruits, sweets and cakes were
placed by the servers on each guests
leaf, till the pretty green plate
was dotted over with all sorts Of good
things. which were apparently enjoyed
indiscriminat ely by the guest. Thus, n
mouthful OF curry was followed by
sweets and cakes, by c.lutnees, al eaten
in the daintiest way with the fingers,
spoons and forks not appearing at ali.
At the end Of the meal attendants
brought round bowl and brass jar and
poured water over the fingers Of each
guest. Is it from the Parsees we have
borrowed the custom Of throwing rice
at wedding? With them il means:
May prosperity and plenty always be
with YOU Is there any such rneaniug
in the comparatively modern custom
that has sprung up among us?--Casse Us
Magazine.