172 Col. Macxenzir on Hindu and Mahommedan Marriage Ceremonies. 
and partake of an entertainment. A mound of earth is then raised in front 
of the boy’s house, plastered with cow-dung, and pounded grain is sprinkled 
over it. The Brahmins ascertain a fortunate hour, on which the bride- 
groom is clothed in his wedding garments, and placed on a low wooden 
seat on the mound. The women of the family on this occasion commence 
their songs, containing an account of the marriages of RAma Cuanpra, and 
of Mauapeva. A barber, on the part of the bride’s father, washes the 
bridegroom’s feet, and lays before him the presents he has brought; the 
whole party then perform ceremonies of worship to Gauri and Ganésa, 
after which the bride’s Brahmin puts the Z%//ai, or nuptial mark, on the 
bridegroom’s forehead, and offers his congratulations. The betel-leaves and 
wreaths of flowers, sent by the bride’s father, are distributed among the 
Brahmins and relations of the bridegroom ; the whole assembly then retire 
to the house, where they perform the ceremony of the Chiémavar, or touch- 
ing the bridegroom ; that is, they hold in both hands a small quantity of 
ground rice, with which they touch every part of his body, from his feet to 
his forehead, giving their blessings every time they touch him. They next 
worship the household gods ; and having fed the Brahmin and barber, and 
dismissed them, an entertainment is served to the guests. 
The next morning the Brahmins perform the ceremony of the Lagan- 
Paira, or ascertaining a proper day on which the marriage shall take place ; 
the day fixed is made known.to the bride’s father, who sends his Brahmin 
with some rice and turmerick, and the bridegroom’s father having mixed with 
them a similar quantity of both articles, the whole is divided into two 
parts, and an equal portion is delivered to the Brahmins of both parties. 
The Brahmin and barber are properly rewarded and dismissed, when they 
return to give an account of the good qualities of the bridegroom. Five 
days previous to the marriage ceremony, both parties prepare canopies in 
front of their own houses ; on the first of these five days the canopies are 
erected ; on the second day they entertain their respective relations; and 
on the third the Bdrdt, or marriage procession, is made ready. During 
these five days persons are stationed near the canopies with kettle-drums 
and other music, on which they continue playing during the greater part of 
the day and night; a large space round the canopies is ornamented with 
branches of trees, lanterns, and flowers, made of coloured paper tale, 
and every other kind of decoration; that those who behold them may 
know that a marriage is to be celebrated, and rejoice accordingly. From 
