8C1T AMINES. 409 



ani Oil upon the forehead, head, breast, back, and feet, and the 

 bride puts on a robe dyed with turmeric, which she wears 

 until the day of the marriage. Turmeric and oil is sent from 

 the house of the bride to the bridegroom, who is anointed in 

 a similar manner, and sends back a similar present to the bride. 



The marriage contract is stained or spotted with turmeric. 

 During the ceremonies the sisters of the bridegroom perform 

 aria before him with a dish of turmeric water, and, dipping 

 their fingers in it, touch his forehead. 



A portion of the wall is daubed with turmeric and dashes of 

 hinl-H after the arrival of the bride in the bridegroom's house, 

 and before it are placed the kul and all the clothes and orna- 

 ments constituting the marriage presents ; the bridegroom, and 

 after him the bride, prostrate themselves before this spot. 



The brideo-room ties a thread round the bride's wrist, to 

 which is attached a piece of turmeric and a betelnut. 



Towards the end of the ceremonies the bridal party play 

 with turmeric water, dashing it over one another. 



A woman who performs scUi and married women when they 

 die are taken to the funeral pile clothed in a robe dyed with 

 turmeric. 



At all times when i?/(/a, or worship of the gods, is made, 

 turmeric is necessary. 



When a new sari (robe) has been purchased, two threads are 

 drawn out, one of which is offered to Surya, and the other to 

 the goddess Tulasi, and turmeric is applied to the corner of the 



cloth. 



Turmeric powder and kiinku (a pigment made with turmeric 

 and lime) is presented to women who have husbands living, 

 and to temple dancing girls, in the month of Chaitra, or upon 

 the occasion of the Nauratra. 



The Akshata rice used in various ceremonies is coloured with 

 turmeric and lime* 



In the Uamayan turmeric is mentioned as one of the eight 

 ingredients of the Arfjhyaj a respectful oblation made to gods 



III.— 52 



