A Hindu Wedding

Evening Post, Volume CXIV, Issue 26, 30 July 1932, Page 9

A Hindu Wedding

At the principal table or table-cloth, whichever you like to call it, the bride and bridegroom at a Hindu wedding sit and eat with their nearest relatives (states a writer in Chambers's Journal). One catches a glimpse of the bride, her. rich sari hall-hiding and half-reveal-ing the dark*beauty of her eyes, the long plait? of her luxuriant hair, Tand the childish roundness of - neck and arms adorned with' glittering gems and delicate trifles 'of gold and jade, for there must always, be gold at an Indian wedding. She is very nervous as she endeavours to serve her "in-laws" with the good things the feast provides, bowing and, kneeling before she hands the various dishes, then, discarding . her little gold slippers, kneeling with bared feet to ask for their blessing. ' "* ' INDIA'S WEDDING CAKE. To thw, the guests smile and nod, touch the head of the kneeling-bride, and then offer hor their presents-whilst they dispose of more delicacies, such as rotis, purees, poppodamsj and pilau, accompanied by succulent curries and delicate fried vegetables; all of which sounds rather strange to Westcm ears, but would be found delicious to sample, especially by one squatting amid the shadows of a wonderful Indian night and listening to the jingling Anklets of the dancing girls and inhaling the exotic •wonder of strange and. beautiful scents. Rose leaves,, spiced arid scented, are flung amid the guests; scents and. rare oils are sprayed into the air; whilst the rice pudding—lndia's wedding cake—is served out and eaten to the accompaniment of sliced Tich fruits and candies, "blanched almonds, and Shredded coconut. ELEPHANT-DRAWN CHARIOTS. The hour rapidly approaches which heralds the most wonderful sight of 'all —the bridegroom's procession. It is just on the streak of dawn that,the chariots and the horsemen—of ten "elephants are used —with the bridegroom enthroned in the midst, wait to take the bride away to her future home. Once more comes the tinkling of anklets, the ', sound of conchshells being musically blown by the women and girls, the soft eerie sweetness'of the fife, the patter of many, bare feet, which seek to drown the sobs of>a poor, frightened child-bride, clinging to her mother for.the last time. There are the tears and smiles of the mother, the blessings of the father, tho last word whispers of tho family, and the Arabian Night's Bream is over as the firstj glowing streaks of dawn light up the black pall of an Indian sky—for, there must always be gold at an Indian wedding. - '