Infant-marriage is in vogue, and polygamy is permitted only if the
first wife be barren. The betrothal is cemented by an exchange of
betel-leaves and areca-nuts between the fathers of the engaged
couple. A bride-price of from ten to twenty rupees is usually
paid. Some rice, a pice coin, 21 cowries and 21 pieces of turmeric
are placed in the hole in which the marriage post is erected. When
the wedding procession arrives at the girl's house the bridegroom
goes to the marriage-shed and pulls out the festoons of mango
leaves, the bride's family trying to prevent him by offering him
a winnowing-fan. He then approaches the door of the house, behind
which his future mother-in-law is standing, and slips a piece of
cloth through the door for her. She takes this and retires without
being seen. The wedding consists of the _bhanwar_ ceremony or walking
round the sacred pole. During the proceedings the women tie a new
thread round the bridegroom's neck to avert the evil eye. After
the wedding the bride and bridegroom, in opposition to the usual
custom, must return to the latter's house on foot. In explanation
of this they tell a story to the effect that the married couple
were formerly carried in a palanquin. But on one occasion when a
wedding procession came to a river, everybody began to catch fish,
leaving the bride deserted, and the palanquin-bearers, seeing this,
carried her off. To prevent the recurrence of such a mischance the
couple now have to walk. Widow-marriage is permitted, and the widow
usually marries her late husband's younger brother. Divorce is only
permitted for misconduct on the part of the wife.