Col. Macxenzir on Hindu and Mahommedan Marriage Ceremonies. 181 
the bridegroom. Some of the principal persons attending the procession, 
colour the bridegroom’s hands and feet with the Maind?, and return in the 
same order as they came. 
On the third day, which is distinguished as the day of marriage, the 
bridegroom’s father prepares the Bdardt, or marriage procession. A great 
number of persons, such as the relations, friends, guests invited, and as 
many more as can be collected, form the Bdrdt. The bridegroom is bathed; 
a thread, in which knots are tied to guard him from inauspicious omens, is 
put into his hand; he is then dressed in coloured garments, with a Sirpaich 
and other ornaments on his turban; wreaths of flowers, gold and silver 
twist, and pearls are put on his neck; and gold and silver rings, such as are 
worn on the wrists, are suspended by a wreath of brocade from his turban. 
He is mounted on a horse, and proceeds with great pomp, and by slow 
degrees, attended by illuminations, fireworks, drums, and other music, 
towards the house of the bride. Should they have any distance to go, the 
principal persons forming the procession are mounted on elephants, on 
horses, and in palankeens ; but if the bride’s house is near their own, they 
proceed on foot. When the procession arrives the bride’s father receives 
them, and conducts them to the canopy, where sherbet is distributed to all 
present ; then the attendants on the bridegroom deposit trays containing 
clothes, jewels, rings to be worn round the ancles, and various other articles, 
to be presented to the bride; also fruits, scents, and spices, such as nut- 
megs, cinnamon, cloves, mace, saffron, &c. carefully: wrapped up in separate 
folds of paper. One of the relations of the bride, her brother or her cousin, 
goes, with her father’s consent, to the female apartments, and seating him- 
self close to the curtain, behind which she is concealed, he reads to her the 
four articles of faith, and explains what is the custom of the family in regard 
to her marriage settlement. On obtaining her consent to the marriage he 
returns to her father, and informs him that every thing has been conducted 
according to the law. The bride’s father places a costly robe, made of bro- 
cade or flowered muslin, with ornaments according to his means, wreaths of 
flowers, various kinds of cloths, a pair of shoes ornamented with gold and 
silver foil, a pearl or a gold ring, and pauns, on trays arranged in proper 
order: these he sends to the bridegroom under charge of a respectable man, 
who is denominated the agent of the marriage, accompanied by two confi- 
dential persons as witnesses to his being the agent. When this agent arrives 
at the place where the bridegroom and the persons of the procession are 
