Indian Antiquary Vol 11

Author(s): Jas Burgess
Publisher: Swati Publications

Page 60

THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
[FEBRUARY, 1882
noon to 5 p.m., and cry out in a long smartThis of course more than covers the value of the voice Chinai bangdi (China bangles). They bangles, for the better sort are not used on this buy their stock from a store. Some of these occasion; when the bangles have been put on, men own houses in Bombay or the Mufasal. and the present placed on a plate before the
Bangles are of seventy-five kinds, and they hawker for his acceptance, the woman as usual vary in price from half an anna to nine ropees bows to the hawker with her hands joined, per dozen, according to the degree of estimation and withdraws. But before withdrawing, she in which they are held. Their names are :- receives a benediction from his month, in these Gajará like a flower wreath, Rasi-out of a terms: "May you remain a married woman for heap, Bilor-made of glass, Rdjawargi-royal ever!" meaning thereby that she may die a sort, Kápiva-cut ones, Ndgmodi-like a ser married woman and even in a future birth may pent's walk, Jaribuți-gold embroidery, Ice- never become a widow. The hawker is looked cream-50 called from their colour, Kolávdar upon by the woman almost in the light of a (Eau de Cologne)-also named from the colour, parent, inasmuch as he fornishes her with Morapisi-of peacock's feather colour, Anár, what is the badge of a married woman. No Motid, Pistai, Zirmi, Soneri, Hirvd, Khuld- Hinda woman will ever say that she bought Motiú, Pivla, Kaché-Kairi, Piroz, Dalambi, the bangles on her wrists, or that she paid for Khulá-Dálimb, Galás, Náringi, sakaryd, Asmd- them, for who can fix the price of a married ni, Moti-Kápiva, Parvári, Kajali, Párvá, Popati, woman's bangles? In like manner if a Kapiv-duchyd, Khuld-pistát, Champd, Andras, Hindu female pleads on her husband's behalf, Chdi, Hirava, Ghás, Gandaki, Kanji, Ambali, she will beg to make her Chudeddn, that is, save Khuld-Kirmij, Nárangi, Khulá-ice-cream, Tulsi, her bangles. But however dear her bangles Guláb, Khuld-morpisi, Lemonade, Phul-guláb, may be to her, and though considered meritoriDagdi-asmani Kathva, Khula-phul-guláb, Val- ous to be worn by her sex, they are nevertheshet, Dagdi-ballu, Handi-gálás, Taktaki, Nuri, less broken on her very wrists, and cast away or Kairi-popti, Rita, Guldb, Mulichd-kold, Tambdd, carried along with the hair of her head, tied in Morchut, and Gulkhár.
her bodice when the remains of her husband are The lowest class or Rasi bangles can be had being removed from the house, and she becomes at half an anna a dozen, and the highest, a widow! No one ever sees a Hindu married Rajavargt, at nine rapees per dozen, and the female with bare wrists so far as bangles are other sorts at from eight to twelve annas. concerned. Should these by some accident be The bangles are put on the wrists of females broken from either wrist she forth with covers it, by the hawkers, some of whom from long ex- so that nobody may see her bare wrist or become perience can manipulate the hand in a way that aware of her misfortune, and she will not even enables them to put on the smallest bangles taste water until she makes good her loss. The that can possibly go over the hand. Women bangles put on the wrists at marriage are called of course like the well-fitting bangles better Lagna chudd. than those which are larger and easily slipped HAWKERS OF PISTACHIOS, APRICOTS, &c. on. It is understood that if a bangle breaks The hawkers of these are both Musalmans while the hawker is putting it on, the loss is his. and Hindus (Banyans). They deal in Persian After her wrists have been encircled with them, dried fruits. They cry: Badám, pistá, akhrud, the woman pays the value, bows to the hawker, &c. Some keep shops about Bhuldáwar, Mumand retires. It is the custom among the Hindu bådevi, the Market, &c. They also sell mangoes women after childbirth (when she is unclean for of superior sort when these are in season, English 40 days), to put on new bangles in place of the apples, &c. Among them is an old Mussalman, old ones. This they call Búlant chudá (confine who, while hawking about, sings a song of his ment bangles). At such seasons a present own composition and repeats each verse at short called tali is made to the hawker, consisting intervals. He deals mostly in pistachios dipped of from one to four sêrs of rice, betelnut and in salt, and parched. The song he sings is :leaves called vida, a cocoanut, and from four
खारा पिस्ता भुजेला, annas to one rupee or upwards in money.
मगजना फाटेला, 1. Gajarís are of eight kinds.
Nagmods are of four kinds.