History of the Parsis : including their manners, customs, religion and present position : with coloured and other illustrations : in two volumes

180 HISTORY OF THE PARSIS. [CHAP. IV.

the preliminary ceremony just related. The holding of the curtain between the bride and the bridegroom, and its subsequent removal, are meant to show that up to the time of the ceremony they were separated from each other, but that they are so no longer. Their being made to sit opposite to one another at first and side by side a little later on also expresses the same notion. The graspimg of their right hands by each other, and their being tied by a string, signify that they are thenceforth united. The putting round of the string and the cloth, so as to encircle them with a double knot at the ends, means that they are now joined and made one. The object of using raw twist, and of its bemg put round them seven times, is to show that, while raw twist itself can be very easily broken, when it is strung round seven times and twined into one it forms so strong a band that it cannot be broken by ordinary strength, thus implying that the love and affection of the husband and wife for each other should be so strong that nothing can undo it. The reason for the twist being strung round seven times is because this number is held to be very auspicious among the Parsis, there having been seven Ameshaspends (archangels), seven heavens, and seven continents, known to the ancient Persians. Lastly, the throwing of a few grains of rice upon each other is watched with much interest by the friends and relations of the bride and bridegroom.