HINDOO GIRLS AND THEIR MARRIAGE PROSPECTS.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2797, 11 March 1882, Page 2

HINDOO GIRLS AND THEIR MARRIAGE PROSPECTS.

Hindoo girls are taught to think of marriage almost as soon , as they can talk ; indeed they hre 6f ten contracted in marriage at six or seven years of age, and go to live with their husbands at twelve or thirteen. Before this, at the age of five, they are taught to propitiate the gods in order to secure a good husband, and their little minds are distracted by what a model husband ought to be. The orthodox conception is a husband like the god Siva, who was holy, austere, advanced in years, and faithful and devoted to one wife, the goddess Doorga. Good little girls re volt at tho idea of a husband marrying a second wife while the first is alive, and , will consequently confess their anxiety to marry a faithful spouse like Siva ; and they learn from their elders to utter tho moat vindictive curses against a rival wife. But for all that Krishna is the idol of Hindoo women, and he was anything but faithful to one wife. He not only kicked over milk pans, run away with tho clothes of the milkmaids when they went to bathe, but he danced and flirted with other men’s wives, eloped with royal damsels, and married an infinite

number of beautiful women. But we can all understand that Hindoo ladies may admire a hero liice Krishna, and yet prefer to have a husband like Siva. The Bengalee millionaire married his daughters to Kulin husbands because Kulins are a superior caste ; but Calcutta Baboos in the present day are more anxious to marry their daughters to boys who arc likely to pass college examinations, gain scholarships, take university degrees, and thus ,bo secure of obtaining a livelihood. During the celebration of the marriage festivities, the bridegroom is often examined by ■ a university graduate in ‘the presence of the bride’s family, for the satisfaction of all concerned; and even the girl is sometimes asked to read a few lines out of a book to show that she is not quite so ignorant as other Hindoo girls of her age.