AT A PARSEE WEDDING

Greymouth Evening Star, 28 October 1932, Page 4

AT A PARSEE WEDDING

RICE, GREASEPAINT & WHISKY.

In the hard, sun-baked grounds of a. hired hall in Bombay a few small boys threw stones with unerring aim at the half-ripened fruit of a mango tree (writes Frank Dexter in the Melbourne Argus). Lines of chairs were occupied by olive-hued men in long, white coats and trousers, and brimless felt hats. Here and there were caps shaped like the hoof of a horse —a grim reminder of the battle of Nahavand in the year 651, when Persia was conquered by the Mohammedan hordes, and those who did not accept the Mohammedan faith were trampled by the invaders’ horses. For these men were Parsees, men whose 'ancestors had sought refuge in India; worshippers of Zoroaster, who had accepted a banishment from their native land rather than adopt the faith of Mohammed. Among them*' sat two white men. I had accompanied a European manufacturers’ agent who, as a compliment to one of his prospective Parse© customers, had accepted an invitation to the wedding of his son.

The prospective customer approached. He apologised for the absence of music and, explained that the death of a relative prevented'a more lavish display. He seemed to be pleased, however, despite the death. His pleasure puzzled me until my companion explained that’the presence of Europeans gave the wedding considerable social standing among the Parsees of Bombay. In future this man would boast that two Europeans were at the wedding of his sou. Fathers whose sons had been married in the presence of Parsees only would wither under" his scorn, and those fathers whose sons had been married before more than two Europeans would con-, sider him their social inferior. For my companion this was merely part of the great game of business in the East. He had been through similar ceremonies before, and lie was as impassive as the Parsees who placidly chewed their betel nut and expectorated into the dust at their feet. “Hero conies the bride!” Even this did not stir enthusiasm among the male guests. They continued to chew, and a few took pinches of snuff. The Parsee never smokes. Fire to him is holy, and ho uses tobacco only as snuff. THE BRIDE ARRIVES. Dressed in a beautiful sari, the bride was led through the yard by her bridesmaids. At Hie door of the hall she was met by a group of married women. She halted. A coconut was broken, the milk was mixed with water in a silver dish, and the mixture was sprinkled over her. This was followed by a. showi.-r <>f rice and jas-j mine blossoms. Here was something I familiar —rice at a wedding. 1 asked > for an explanation. “It is to express the wish that food may be forever plentiful for the pair," i was told. The bridegroom did not escape. He too, was led to the .door of the hall to receive his sprinkling »f rice. Then with a garland of rose blossoms around his neck, he returned to the yard—and this time rice grains were sprinkled on his fnrehrmrl ©id red greasepaint was dabbed >,,, ©i . lace by the guests as they gave their wedding presents. | No weary tramping from store to I store is done by the Parsec in senn-tii of a wedding present. He has solved) this, great problem in a. Umph' ;’.ay. I Gold rings or money arc given, and !

there is no trouble about the amounts presented. When Jehangir's son was

married Irani gave him 31 rupees, so when Irani’s son is married Jehangir gives him 31 rupees. IL may be 11 rupees or 101 rupees, bill, always it is an odd number, for the odd numbers are lucky numbers in India. Presents are given also to the father and brothers of the bridegroom. ihe amounts are carefully noted against the time when reciprocity is due. Hands and face were washed, and guests were given roses, betel nut, and a gold paper cone which contained Indian loaf sugar. My companion nudged me. “Chew your betel nut.” he commanded. “Be polite!” Remembering with a shudder the grubby hands which I had seen preparing the nut for chewing in many parts of the East, and gazing apprehensively at the reddened teeth, lips, and gums of the other guests, I hesitated, but after another impatient nudge from my companion, I chewed and expectorated valiantly with the rest, much to the delight of th© other guests.

At a signal we rose, and. following the bridegroom, w© entered the hall. Here chairs were grouped around the altar, which consisted of a small platform raised about Gin. from the ground. Candles in glass globes burned at each of its four corners, there, was a fire of sandalwood in a silver brazier in the centre, and oil lamps flickered behind it. Four priests in long, white robes officiated. They squatted on mats, waiting until they wer© required. The bride could not be found. I glanced at the bridegroom, but he was unconcerned. “Part of the ceremony," explained my companion. “She will be found.”

And she was found. Six male guests, armed with candles, found her among the other women in the hall. Candles were raised and she was asked whether she consented to the marriage. Twice she answered, “No.r 'Phis was also pari of the ceremony. At the third time of asking the answer was “Yes.” The searchers brought her to rhe altar and informed the priest that, in the light of Ihe candle, which denotes faith, i ruth, and purity, the girl had agreed to marry the man.

I The bride’s part in lhe ceremony was then almost finished. The priests concentrated on the .groom, whose hands were joined to those of the In ide's father. Behind them sat the groom’s brother, who held over the i groom’s head a small green mat on I which rested dried fruits and nuts. ‘For half an hour, while lhe head priest, read th© bridegroom’s obligations to his wife, the brother had to remain in this cramped position. His bands trembled and his arms sagged until the mat touched the groom’s head. Perspiration trickled down his ia.ee, but h© managed to survive the ordeal, although his sigh of relief was audible as the priest reached the last page of the book. Then the obligations of. the bride’s father to the married couple were u-hil - another halfhour of monotonous chanting. The women guests listened intently. But lhe men ! I turned and discovered that I was the only male still interested in the ceremony. The others had wandered to the bar. I followed and found that although the Parsee j does not smoke, he has an excellent taste in whisky. Refreshed, we returned to the hall and found the groom sitting with his bride. It was her turn to receive presents, together' with a. liberal supply of red grease-1 paint and rice on the forehead. The ceremony was over. Women hugged ' one another, small boys returned Io their assault on the mango tree, Hie men returned to Hie bur, and I, with tightly closed lips, returned to my

hotel, where, by vigorous scrubbing, the traces of the betel nut were removed.