The wedding songs
[For the details of the ceremonials see de Klerk ('51: 127-191) and Speckmann ('65: 135-146) without reference to which the meaning of the songs will not be clear.]
The songs for the following stages of the tilak ceremony have been recorded.
1. Placing sagun, various auspicious and religious objects in a thālī, metal plate. The song includes fish among these, which may be due to some Mithilā influence since this is not actually used in the ceremonies in Surinam. The song also may declare the ancestry of both sides.
2. General preparation of the cauk, prayers and offerings including a homa (fire-sacrifice), kindling a clay-lamp and the reading of scriptures.
3. The bride-to-be of the bridegroom sits down for the tilak ceremony and is blessed by the relatives, while receiving the tilak mark on the forehead.
4. Giving gifts, because of which the ceremony has become known as tilak caṛhānā (making an offering of the tilak gifts) or tilak denā (giving the tilak gifts). This song is printed here.
5. Departure of the visiting party.
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