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NOVEXBER, 1890.]
PARSI AND GUJARATI HINDU NUPTIAL SONGS.
375
No. 2. song sung on a like occasion by the Bride's Party, (On) a golden chair studded with rubies, Sits my Sirînbai and prays to her father :"Father, find me such a husband as will grant me all I wish for." (And to her mother) “Mother, find me such a husband as will bring bracelete and
bangles for me." 3 The Mê bêta encounters the bridegroom (who says to him): "Méhéta, on what errand are
you bound? Tarn back, Məhêtâ, (for) I have already) brought bangles and bracelets."
No. 3. song sung when & Brotherlo sends Presents to his Sister on the occasion of
her Children's Marriages. Amadabådll is in an uproar to-day : Amadabad is full of people to-day. My mother's son sends (me) his presents. My (maternal) grandmother's son sends (me) his presents. 5 “Wherefore these presents, brother?” "Sister, because thy son is to be married." The mosálán makes the house look grand. There is no end of people in the train (of those who bring it).
Sister mine, go under the mandav, 12 and put on the marriage) dress. 10 The advent of the mosální makes the yard resound with music.
I knew that my brother would furnish the mosálan, And that my good-luck-bearing sister-in-law would bring it down. The mosdlun makes the house look grand.
The banker comes with the rupees, 15 And the goldsmith brings the gold coins.
The whole street looks gorgeous with the splendour of the mosdlun. The goldsmith brings necklaces and chains, And the jeweller comes with his diamonds.
The mosdlún makes the house look grand. 20 The florist brings garlands of flowers.
The pán-leaf seller brings packets (bidán) of pan-leaves.
• The bride ; any other name might be substituted.
• The MêhêtA is a sort of secretary and accountant in a wealthy family. His daty is to keep all the accounta, write letters for the master and mistress, and do such other jobs for the family. It is generaly the Mehet, or the family priest, who is entranted with the match-making.
10 On the occasion of a wedding, presente, chiefly of clothes, are made to the bride and bridegroom and also to both their parents by all their relativee. But by far the best presents are expected by both the bride's and the bridegroom's mothers from their respective brothers. These presenta are called, collectively, m edian, lit. 'ooming from the mother's vide.'
11 i. e. AhmadAbad. The na ue of suy other place where the wedding takes place might be substituted bere. 12 The mandav is a canopy, under which the marriage festivities are beld.
13 All the presenta, which chiefly consist of suits of wearing apparel and jewellery, are arranged in tray, with a large conical packet of sugar, A 0000Anat, few pan-leaves and betel nuts. some dry dates, parlaod of flowers, a handful of rice, some cards, and some kunkun. The recipient of the presenta is made to stand on srall stool, and is then either dressed in or only presented with the clothes, the garland of Bowers is placed round her neck, the auspicious red mark in kunkus made on ber forehead, the cocoanut, pan-leaven, betel nuts, and daten placed in her lap, and finally some cards or sugar is placed in her mouth. This done the recipient of the presenta bows down, and touching the feet of the woman who represents the donor, makes an obeisance, while the latter in her turn sprinkles some rice over the recipient's head and waving her hands over it, cracks her finger jointa against ber own temples, at the same time uttering many good wishes, while the women around all join in singing auspicious song.
