28 S. C. Das — Marriage Customs in SiTckim. [No. 1, 



chang-gyug (wine for welcoming) to receive the bridal party. These 

 dividing themselves into three parties, wait on the way in three stages. 

 They carry with them a number of bamboo bottles of boiled cliang, 

 and reeds for sucking the liquor from them, and one or two heavy loads 

 of fermented cliang (mtir-iva beer). At each stage they burn incense to 

 the gods in large quantities for the purpose of purifying the atmosphere 

 and also to drive away the evil spirits. 



The first division of su-mi, that meet the bridal party midway 

 inform the tha-pon of the health of the bridegroom and the arrange- 

 ments for their reception, and the t7ia-pon in a short speech asks them 

 to partake of the welcoming wine sent for their reception and refreshment. 

 He first invokes the gods, &c, then drinks chang. The invocation con- 

 sists of the following : — 



" The highest reverence is due to the three Holies. The gnardian 

 deities and tutelary deities claim our adoration with precious objects. 

 By the blessings of the Lamas and the kind advice and predictions of 

 the Dakinis, angels that soar on high, we succeed in all our worldly 

 undertakings. The secrets of our success are supplied by the tutelary 

 deities, and the Dharmapalas protect ns by driving away the evil spirits 

 from our neighbourhood. Let all the dangers and accidents to life that 

 await ns be averted I Listen to our prayers, and in return for the 

 service we have rendered to you grant us health, wealth and all that 

 the married couple may be in need of. O extend your helping hands 

 to them at all times ! " 



Those who wait at the second stage raise a bower of green branches 

 and leaves of trees for receiving the bride. Here a fire is kept 

 burning and water boiling in a large canldron. This is called the 

 thab-so (keeping of the hearth). A kid is kept tied to a post at 

 the entrance of the bower. Two or three long bamboo bottles called 

 pddun, filled with water and decorated with wreaths of flowers, are also 

 kept outside the entrance of the bower. Here the bridal party is 

 regaled with chang and tea. 



The last place where the bridal parfcy is given the most cordial 

 welcome is the tangra (outer courtyard) of the bridegroom's house. 

 Here a man waits with a wooden tray containing the chang-lci yang-tse 

 (a large cup full of wine) on the brim of which are stuck five crumbs of 

 buttered barley called the yaga, a quantity of chemar (butter and barley 

 flour mixed together), and the dah-dar (arrow with the five-coloured 

 flags at its pinnacle). The bridal party as they enter the courtyard 

 touch the wine and other articles at the entrance. 



In the bridegroom's house his mother makes the necessary arrange- 

 ment for the reception of the bride and the hun-don (bridal party). She 



