Page:Folk-lore - A Quarterly Review. Volume 9, 1898.djvu/177

Rh Attendants now bring in small bundles of loose cotton, which they lay down on the ground at the threshold, and there is then a general cry from the relatives: "Come in! Come in!" The bride now steps on the cotton, and from that moment is considered to be an integral part of the family; and the idea conveyed by the cotton is that as it is soft and smooth, so shall her path in life be. The family "Mullah," or priest, then comes forward with his Koran and bespeaks a blessing; and then he, and all others to whom fees are owing, receive their due payment. A garland of flowers is then placed over the bride's neck by the gardener's wife, and the mother-in-law now brings in the "Churree," a sort of sweetmeat like "Hulwah." She hands it to the bride; who partakes a little, and then puts a small portion into her mother-in-law's mouth, saying as she does so: "I shall be dutiful to you, and we shall feed together in love and happiness." The bridegroom then advances to receive his bride, and the last ceremony is over.

Farmers' houses in the district are generally built rather low and with flat roofs. There are frequently three or four huts in an enclosure called a "Vairrah," and one of these is given to the newly married couple.

What a Bridegroom of the Punjab should be, from a native point of view.

Oochâh our siddhâh burchâ hâr
 * Nuzzur baz hâr

Vaal thay Akheeânh kallee kahânh hâr
 * Dhundh Dhundkund hâr

Maththâ khullâh thay chourrâh
 * Banh lummânh thay thugra

Châthee our morrainh bhur poor thay chourray
 * Lukh lummânh thay chottâ
 * Châl Ghorâh dhee
 * Mooch chânh thay awâz sherânh hâr
 * Thaiz Hurrun hâr.
 * Thay bay Darr.