| The wedding-eve is called
Mehndi Raat ( night of Henna). Once again the women assemble and to the
accompaniment of bridal songs apply henna to the hands the bride or the
bridegroom. The henna left over is then used by the other women present
on the occasion.
On the morning of the day fixed for the departure of
the Barat ( marriage procession), the ceremony of Gharoli is performed.
The bridegroom's bhabi ( brother's wife), dressed in her best and accompanied
by some other female relatives, goes singing to a nearly pool or well
and fills a gharoli (small earthen pitcher) with water. This water is
ceremoniously brought mixed with more water and after vatna has been nicely
applied, the person to be married is bathed in it. This is called Khare
Charna (sitting on the basket). Under the stool on which the boy is seated
one small lamp is lighted. It is made of flour and is filled with ghee.
Women keep singing songs meant for this occasion. Four girls hold a cloth
overhead forming a sort of canopy. After the bath, the boy gets up from
the stool and breaks with his feet five earthen lids which have already
been kept there for the purpose. After that he goes and puts on his new
clothes.
The same ceremony is performed at the girls house, the only difference
being that the girl's maternal uncle helps her get up from the stool,
and after she has changed, takes her into one corner of the house, where
she keeps sitting till it is time for the marriage ceremony. This is called
sitting on Chhandalian. It is here that she wears choora (red ivory bangles).
She also receives at this time a gift brought by the family barber from
her in -laws, which is known as Kuar Dhoti (dhoti for the virgin). The
packet actually includes clothes for the bride, a coconut and various
other things. All this time the girl is supposed to be observing a fast.
After this gift has been received, she is made to wear the clothes and
break her fast.
As for the boy when he gets ready after wearing
his new clothes, his sisters tie Sehra (flower garland) on his head to
the accompaniment of appropriate songs. The boy gets on to the back of
decked mare and is ready to proceed to the bride's place. The bridegroom's
bhabi at this time puts collyrium in his eyes, and his sisters hold the
reins of the mare. In return the bridegroom gives them money. Before proceeding
to the bride's house, the ceremony of cutting the Jandi tree is
performed. To ward off evil, the bridegroom cuts off with his sword, which
hangs on his side, a branch from the Jandi tree. After that he is taken
to a temple to pay his homage there, and then the whole party proceeds
to the bride's house.
Before entering the bride's house, the Barat stops at
the gate and the Milni (meeting) ceremony is performed. The chief male
relatives of both the parties hug their counter parts one by one. The
first person to do this is the father. After the introductory embrace,
the girl's relatives give to their counter parts money according to their
means. While this goes on, the female relatives of the girl sing or just
recite Sithanis, which are verses replete with humour and satire. They
seek to make great fun of the boy's family, but everybody takes it lightly.
That over, the party goes in for dinner. The boy is escorted to the place
where the girl is seated. Before he steps across the threshold, some oil
is poured on the hinges of the door, and the family barber lights a lamp
in a sieve and welcomes him with that. The bridegroom then steps in and
is made to recite some chhands (verses) which he has already learnt. |
