When the marriage contract has, in this manner, been confirmed on both sides, the bridegroom returns home, and the _Canya_ is left at her own house; for the consummation does not actually take place till the bride has had her monthly purification, so that no doubt can remain of her being arrived at the state of puberty. As soon as this is told to the bridegroom, he makes preparations for the wedding, and with that view repairs, accompanied by all his relations, to the house of the bride, before which an arbour has been constructed. It is made fast to four poles sunk to a considerable depth in the earth; but before the first pole has been erected, the Brahmans approach the hole destined to receive it, and, in honour of _Gannèsha_ and _Lakshmi_, besprinkle it with milk and water, and throw into it a few _Arasu_ leaves, together with a little raw rice mixed with saffron. When all the four poles are placed upright, a red cord, to which a great number of _Mava_ leaves are fastened, is wound three or four times round them at the top. In the middle of the arbour is raised a small altar, on which is deposited the image of the god _Poleyar_, who is the same as the before-mentioned _Gannèsha_; and behind the altar is planted a twig of the tree _Arasu_, which, as I have already said, is considered as a symbol of the Trinity of the Indians; that is to say, of _Brahma_, _Vishnu_, and _Shiva_. Near this branch is placed seven earthen vessels, in which rice has been sown, and which, at the time of this solemnity, must be at least two inches in height. These seven vessels have a symbolic reference to the seven planets.