While these songs are sung, the bridegroom puts on his wedding dress, in another apartment of the same house in which the _Canya_ resides; and as soon as he appears, the _Hòma_ is kindled, which the new-married couple carefully endeavour to keep up, by throwing into it sandal wood, frankincense, oil, butter, and other inflammable substances. After this ceremony the bridegroom seats himself on a kind of stool, called _Pida_; places both his hands together, and holds them straight out before him. The Brahman fills them with rice, betel, and areca; puts a coco nut on the top, and binds around his left arm a woollen band, to the end of which is fastened a piece of _curcuma_, or Indian saffron. Whilst he is doing this he repeats the names of the three chief Indian deities, viz. _Brahma_, _Vishnu_, and _Shiva_ (or _Rudra_); and, at the same time, casts three knots on the band. Still repeating the names of these deities, he next paints a sacred sign on the bridegroom’s forehead with the hallowed ashes of the _Hòma_ which have remained; and which are called _Tirunìra_. This figure represents either the eye of Shiva, a crescent, the water-lily (_Nymphæa_), or a pyramid, the emblem of fire. When these ceremonies are finished, the bridegroom orders a small dish to be brought; throws into it every thing put into his hands, as a token of his respect for the gods; and makes a present of the whole to his barber, or the man who washed him, and to the surrounding musicians. The Brahman then steps forwards, and hangs a garland of flowers around his neck; upon which he rises up from his stool, places himself in a palanquin, and in that manner is carried through all the streets of the town. He is attended by the company assembled to celebrate the wedding, and by all the musicians, singers, and female dancers, making a loud noise, which resounds throughout the whole place. As such marriage-processions are generally in the night, a great number of torches, lamps, candles and lights are exhibited on the occasion; and various small transparent figures, painted upon paper, and representing different Indian deities, are carried round at the same time.