Marriage

Author(s): Natubhai Shah
Publisher: UK Jain Academy

Page 51

B. Engagement ceremony
When the match is arranged, an auspicious day is fixed for the engagement ceremony. Now a days, the parties generally fix the days most convenient to them. But still it is not rare, especially in India, parents of the bride and bride groom to resort to astrologers to name one or more auspicious days for the engagement or marriage or such other auspicious events.
On the engagement day, at first, the ladies of the bridegroom's family go to the house of the bride and make her a money present in silver coins. Then the ladies of the bride's family go to the house of the bridegroom and make him a similar present. These reciprocal presents of silver coins form the only important part of the ceremony. Nuptial songs are generally sung on these occasion.
The ladies return to their houses, after a little refreshment, mostly consisting of fish, curd, plantains and sweets.
C. Pre-marriage rituals
The nuptial ceremonies of the marriage day are preceded by several other ceremonies,
(a) The Divo or the kindling of a lamp.:- The
next ceremonial occasion is that of Divoi.e. a light. It is so called, because early in the morning of a day fixed for the occasion, an oil lamp is lit in the house of each party. The ladies of each of the two families go in turn to the house of the other, and place a silver coin in the lamp there. This occasion is considered more important than that of engagement ceremony, because, on it, formal presents of clothes and rings are made. When the matches are arranged, the betrothal is hastily determined upon, to give a formal stamp, as it were, to the arrangement. The parties then have no time to prepare mutual presents and gifts; so, this second occasion, the day for which is fixed leisurely, is more important than the engagement, for formal presents of gifts. The first wedding rings are generally presented by both parties on that day.
(b) The Adarni:- The next important occasion is that of Adarni. It is the occasion, on which,
51