224 BESTOWINfJ THE
'
TALI
wife Lakshmi, Brahma and Sarasvati, Siva and Parvati, the Sun and his wife Chhaya, the _ Moo _ n and his wife Rohini, lndra and Sathi, Vasishta and Arundhati, Rama and Sita,
Krishna and Rukmani, and several other pairs of gods
and goddesses.
As soon as the mangalashta is finished they fasten on the
tali, that is, the little gold ornament which all married women wear round their necks; the tali is strung on a little cord which is dyed yellow with saffron water, and composed of 108 very fine threads closely twisted together.
Other little ornaments of gold are also added, round which are fastened flowers and fine black seeds. Two handfuls
of rice are placed in a metal pot, on the rice is laid a cocoanut dyed yellow, and on the top of the cocoanut the tali, to which they offer a sacrifice of sweet perfumes- The
tali is then taken round to all the guests, both men and women, who touch it and bless it l.
Four large metal lamps, each with four wicks, are brought in and placed on a stand, which must also be of the same
metal. Above are set other lamps fashioned out of a paste composed of ground rice, and these are filled with
oil. They are lighted, and four women take them in their hands. At the same time all round the pandal a great number of other lamps are lighted. Then ensues a tremendous din. The women sing, the musicians play, bells are rung, cymbals are clashed, and anything and everything within reach from which sound can be extracted is seized on, each one striving to outdo the other in creating noise 2.
In the midst of this hubbub the husband advances towards his young wife, who is seated facing the east, and while reciting mantrams he fastens the tali round her neck,
securing it with three knots.
The husband and wife, sitting side by side, then offer
each other betel. Two married women approach them, give them their blessing, and place akshatas, which have
been consecrated by mantrams, on their heads, and finally perform the ceremony of aratti.
1
Old ladies whose husbands are alive are specially requested to touch and bless the tali, to ensure the couple a long married life. Ed.
2
This noise is intended to drown any sounds of weeping, sneezing, quarrelling, & c, which are considered bad omens. Ed.