1 820 Moslem marriage observances.
2 Among the Dhunds of Haziira after the betrothal a day is fixed
3 for the wedding. On this day the boy's father pays Rs. 10 to 20 to
4 the girl's father. This sum is called pjiehh ruin led. The girl's father
5 bauds it over to the girl's maternal uncle and he in return gives her
6 utensils, a couch and so n
7 Among the Jaduns when some time after the betrothal prepara¬
8 tions for the marriage are made the imdtn of a mosque is consulted to
9 fix an auspicious day for the wedding.
10 Naming the dag— In Attock tahsil the t.aita, the term applied to
11 the ceremony of fixing a day for the marriage, is thus observed : The
12 hoy's father with 3 or 1 other respectable persons goes to the girl's
13 father and asks him what amount he will accept for the expenses of
14 the wedding. He agrees to take as much grain or cash as he thinks
15 will be consumed and in addition what he will have to spend on the
16 bride's ornaments and clothes.
17 In Pindi Ghcb when the pavties are ready to celebrate the marri¬
18 age two or three men of the boy's party go to the girl's father for
19 the gati&k pdwan and to settle an amount to be paid for the supply
20 of food to the wedding party. One day before the wedding the
21 females assemble iu the house of the boy's father and go to the girl s
22 house with drums, mehndi &c. to unplait the girl's hair. This is called
23 mend hi UohiA 1 and mehndi Idnd The wedding party sets out on the
24 wedding day. The number of men in a wedding party depends on the
25 position” of the hoy's father, and drummers and bandsmen are sometimes
26 engaged. The party reaches the bridegroom's house in the evening
27 and is put up in a separate house. On its arrival the bride s father sends
28 it a pitcher of sharbat, a plate of halwa and another of mutton. Ihe
29 party is first served with the sharbat which is called haddi shariat
30 while the mutton and halvsd are placed before the bridegroom.
31 Ganih badhai.—ln Leiah allowing a reasonable interval after the
32 nishdnl the boy’s party express a wish to have the wedding performed,
33 consult a few near relations and friends and with the consent of the girl’s
34 guardians fix a date for it. To satisfy people that this has been done
35 they exhibit a long, slightly twisted thread, coloured white, red and
36 yellow, usually with a knot tied in it and keep it for future use. This
37 thread is called mould dd dhdgd. This done they distribute sweetmeats,
38 repeat the dun- k hair and withdraw. This ceremony is called gatidh
39 bandhni. The dav thus fixed must be one of the following dates 4,
40 5, 7, 11 , 14, 17, 21, 24, 25, 26 or 27 of any moon, but the whole months
41 of K&tak and Chet and the 10 days of Asur6 are not allowable for
42 marriage. A wedding during the remaining 20 days of Moharram,
43 though admissible, is unlucky.
44 About a week or so before the wedding day the hoy's father
45 engages a barber or mirdsi and handing him the thread sends him round
46 to 'notify the date by delivering a hit of it to every relation and ^ friend
47 entitled to join in the ceremony. , This is called gandt phtfnd. The
48 1 MendM kliolna. — A day or two before tbe wedding, the brido-groom’a womenfolk
49 accompanied by bis younger brother go to tho brido’s house end bare her hair unplaced,
50 gongs are sung oxi this occasion (Mi&nwAli).