Page:Folk-lore - A Quarterly Review. Volume 9, 1898.djvu/176

152 groom enters the house, and the bride in her "Doolee" is put down at the door, surrounded by her female attendants. Then the carriers, or "Machees," with the musicians, move off, and the crowd begins to disperse.

We will pause here for a moment to examine the dress of these female attendants. This consists of cotton paijamas, or "Suthun," of various colours and textures, a loose jacket reaching to the knees, called a "Choli;" and covering the head, and hanging in folds at the back of the figure, and falling almost to the ground, is a white or coloured scarf, or sheet, called a "Chadur;" while on the feet are embroidered shoes. In the way of ornament to the person they have gold nose-rings, or "Natts," and some wear nose-rings in the shape of cloves, called "Loungs." In the hair on the forehead are flat gold ornaments containing verses from the Koran and termed Dawaeen, or Blessings. On their right thumbs are worn gold rings with mirrors inserted in them, which are called " Arsee," while on both arms are several silver bangles, or "Vanganh," graduated from the wrist upwards.

Returning to the bride, she is now helped out of her "Doolee" by these attendants, and awaits at the threshold the coming of her mother-in-law, who as a rule rarely graces the marriage ceremonies with her presence. While she waits she stands holding the door-frame, or "Mohât." Presently the mother-in-law appears, bearing in one hand a small cup full of water; advancing to greet the bride, she holds the cup over her head and makes a move round it, and then drinks off the water, saying: "I welcome you to my house, and promise you my love." After this, members of her husband's family come forward and give their signs of recognition in the way of presents, and the promise of other gifts to come. In some cases a cow or buffalo is given, or a camel or a horse, as in the case of the bridegroom. The bride still stands at the door-frame; and this standing prior to entrance is called, "Mohât nappâee."