Page:Castes and Tribes of Southern India.djvu/484

BRAHMAN is Gauri, in honour of whom many of the rites hereafter noticed are performed. These ceremonies give a vivid idea of the hopes and fears, the aspirations, and the forebodings of Hindu womanhood. The following ceremonies are practised by girls after betrothal, and before union with their husbands: —


 * Atlataddi. — On the third day after the full moon,an early meal before sunrise, the worship of Gauri in the afternoon, and the presentation of ten cakes to ten matrons upon the dismissal of the deity invoked. The object is to secure a young agreeable husband.


 * Uppu (salt). — This consists in making a present to any matron of a pot of salt, full to the brim, at the end of the year, with the view to secure a long enjoyment of the married state.


 * Akshayabandar. — This consists in making a present of a pot full of turmeric to any matron at the end of the year, with a view to avert the calamity of widowhood.


 * Udayakunkuma. — Putting the red kunkuma mark on the foreheads of five matrons before sunrise, with the object of being always able to wear the same mark on her own forehead, i.e., never to become a widow.


 * Padiharukudumulu. — The presentation of sixteen cakes once a year for sixteen years to a matron. This is for the attaining of wealth.


 * Kartika Gauri Dēvi. — Exhibiting to a matron the antimony box, with a preparation of which the eyes are trimmed to give the brilliancy, and wearing on the head turmeric rice (akshatalu). The object of this is said to be to give sight to blind relatives.


 * Kandanomi. — Abstaining for a year from the use of arum (Amorphophallus Campanulatus), of which the corms are an article of food, and presenting a matron