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26
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY
OCTOBER, 1921
village guest hoase. And mats were brought for them to sit on and huqqas of gold and silver and brass were brought for them to smoke. Garlands were flung round their necks. The minstrels sang to them and the Kheras distributed money to the minstrels with lavish hands.
When the procession arrived Ranjha's soul and his heart was scorched like roasted meat, and he said to himself sadly: "Saida is drunk with joy to-day though he has not touched wine. Saida has become a Nawab and Hir his princess—who cares for poor Ranjha the shepherd. Death is better than life without iny beloved." And the people in their pity for Ranjha said "Chuchak has been cruel. He has broken his word and disgraced his Faith."
Meanwhile the members of the marriage procession girded on their belts and proceeded to the house of the bride. The oilmen held their torches in their hands to light the way for the procession and the barbers presented dishes of sweets to the bridegroom's party. Then five rupees and a shawl were given to the Kheras. When the relations of the bride and the bridegroom met they put the bridegroom and his best man on horseback.
Then the fireworks began. Three were stars and catherine wheels, bombs, balloons, and coloured rain rockets, and set pieces of elephants, stage, peacocks, coloured circles, and moving thrones and revolving moons. All the neighbourhood flocked to see the fireworks. After the fireworks came the dinner, and rice and sugar and butter were distributed in big dishes, and the singing women sang songs and were given money.
The bride and bridegroom were made to sit facing each other and each one put "surma " in the other's eyes, and the fun waxed fast and furious and the girls pestered the bridegroom with jokes and riddles and questions. They gave him a sheaf of wheat and 'asked him if he could weave a basket. They made the bride close her fist and asked the bridegroom if he could open it. They threw a pair of women's petticoats over his head.
Try and lift this heavy cup with one finger,' shouted one girl, bring us some stallions' milk,' said another. How can you work a well without bullocks?' said a third. Can you pitch a tent withou' poles ? Can you put an elephant into a saucer?' said another. They tickled him under the chin and asked jeeringly, why he had brought his old mother along. To whom did he want to marry her? Was he hunting for a husband for his sister among their shepherds? At whom was his best man's mother casting her eyes. "We can get the very cowhead you want for your mother."
And Saida replied mockingly : “You are as lively and as wise as Belkis the wife of Solomon herself and your wit burns us up entirely. Go to Dhonkal and you'll see & tent pitched without poles. Yes, I can make a well go without bullocks---take off your clothes and jump in. I have already married your cowherd's sister and we can supply Justy men to suit all of you. I am ready to take all of you home with me." Thus they jested and feasted at the marriage feast of Hir and Saida.
The Kazi who was to solemnise the marriage was given a seat on the floor. They appointed two witnesses and an attorney and prepared to offer prayers. They told Hir the five principles of Islam and made her recite the “Kalma." They told her the definition of Faith and made her repeat "there is only one God and Muhammad is his Prophet.” They made her read the six Kalmas and taught her the Five Times of Prayer. And Hir the Sial said angrily to the Kazi: "Why bother your head to pick a quarrel? I do not intend to turn my face away from Ranjha. What have Kazis and the “Shara" to do with True religion? There is a big well in Hell into which Kazis will be thrown by God.”
The Kazi again admonished Hir but she was displeased and refused to say a word to him. The Kazi said to Hir: "You should obey the orders of your religion, if you wish to live.'
