DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.22902#0018
( io )
Lallajee was " up with the lark," and gave orders to make the
necessary preparations for the proper reception of the bride-
groom. Festoons of gay flowers and green mango-leaves*
were hung on all sides of the Castle, and silver vessels, filled
brimful with water, were placed on either side of the gateway.
All the artificial fountains were made to play, and the whole
Castle was decorated with unusual pomp and grandeur. That
day the door of the Castle was open to every one, and the
egress and ingress of people were continual. The poor and
the needy received alms, and feastings and merriment went on
uninterrupted there. The worthy dame of Lallajee herself
presided in the kitchen amidst a host of dependant female rela-
tions, and she was seen busily bustling about from room to room,
though perhaps she had very little or nothing actually to do ;
but she was busy because the mistress of the house ought to
be busy on such great occasions. A gathering of relations and
kinsmen had already begun, and Lallajee gave his guests as
warm a reception as he could; offering them the attar and
pan with his own hands. The cup of uml-paneef was cheer-
fully circulated amongst the persons invited, and a hearty
meal was soon after brought, to which the hungry guests did
ample justice.
It was nearly evening, and refreshments were distributed
amongst the large crowd that had assembled outside of the
Castle, to witness the pomp of the bridegroom's procession.
Expectation was on tip-toe for the approach of the Prince;
but the grey hue of twilight had nearly given place to the
sombre shades of night, but yet there was no sign of his
coming. Lallajee, waxing impatient with the delay, went
up to the terrace, whence he could command a more distant
* It is customary to hang up festoons of inango-leaves at the time of the
marriage.
f Solution of opium, the favorite beverage of the Rajpoots—vide Todd's
XLajasilian, Vol. I., page 644.
Lallajee was " up with the lark," and gave orders to make the
necessary preparations for the proper reception of the bride-
groom. Festoons of gay flowers and green mango-leaves*
were hung on all sides of the Castle, and silver vessels, filled
brimful with water, were placed on either side of the gateway.
All the artificial fountains were made to play, and the whole
Castle was decorated with unusual pomp and grandeur. That
day the door of the Castle was open to every one, and the
egress and ingress of people were continual. The poor and
the needy received alms, and feastings and merriment went on
uninterrupted there. The worthy dame of Lallajee herself
presided in the kitchen amidst a host of dependant female rela-
tions, and she was seen busily bustling about from room to room,
though perhaps she had very little or nothing actually to do ;
but she was busy because the mistress of the house ought to
be busy on such great occasions. A gathering of relations and
kinsmen had already begun, and Lallajee gave his guests as
warm a reception as he could; offering them the attar and
pan with his own hands. The cup of uml-paneef was cheer-
fully circulated amongst the persons invited, and a hearty
meal was soon after brought, to which the hungry guests did
ample justice.
It was nearly evening, and refreshments were distributed
amongst the large crowd that had assembled outside of the
Castle, to witness the pomp of the bridegroom's procession.
Expectation was on tip-toe for the approach of the Prince;
but the grey hue of twilight had nearly given place to the
sombre shades of night, but yet there was no sign of his
coming. Lallajee, waxing impatient with the delay, went
up to the terrace, whence he could command a more distant
* It is customary to hang up festoons of inango-leaves at the time of the
marriage.
f Solution of opium, the favorite beverage of the Rajpoots—vide Todd's
XLajasilian, Vol. I., page 644.