| This
ceremony begins like the Yajnopavita ceremony with gara-navai
or house cleaning and then, in like manner, henabandi and divagon
are porformed. On the wedding day the bridegroom is dressed with gold-laced
garments and over them is worn a bright coloured robe, and his turban is
adorned with a bunch of herons' feathers. A procession is formed in the
compound where the bridegroom stands on Vyug (a place decorated
with lime and oolour). Then the eldest lady of the house comes and turns
lighted lamps and a couple of pigeons round his neck and the relatives
sing songs all the while and shower coins and sugar over him. Then he starts,
riding on a horse preceded by other horses and palankin to the ghat
and thence the party starts in a procession of boats (now cars) to the
bride's parents' house. If the wedding party has to go to a village not
approachable by boat, horses and vehicles are used. There the Vyug
is kept ready for the bridegroom to stand upon. The bride is brought and
mde to stand on his left side on the Vyug, snd the ceremony of turning
lamps and pigeons round the heads of the couple is performed by the eldest
lady of tbe house. A feast is given to the bridegroom and the party. The
lagan
or the nuptial ceremony is performed by the priests of the bridegroom assisted
by other priests. After reciting various incantations the couple is given
food which they partake in one and the same plate. Then they are made to
walk together hand in hand on seven coins of silver round the fire lighted
on the occasion. Then the priests are given cash presents. In the end the
parents of the bride offer them flowers with many blessings in Sanskrit
poetry which the Brahmins recite in one chorus (Posh Pooza).
After the lagan
is over the bridegroom with his bride and party returns to his own house.
Before starting he and the bride are made to stand again on the Vyug
and the ceremony attached to it is repeated. The bride is then placed in
the palankin and the bridegroom rides his horse and the procession returns
to the bridegroom'g house. There again the Vyug ceremony is performed
and after that the couple enter their home, the ladies singing songs all
the while. |
