Baal Kaanda
57 - Return of the marriage procession to Ayodhya and rejoicing in the city
Chaupais
Description
All the mothers were so overcome with joy and rapture that their feet refused to walk and all their limbs began to droop as it were. Full of intense longing for a sight of Sri Rama they began to get everything ready for the reception of their sons. Music of every kind started playing, while Sumitra gladly got together articles of good omen such as turmeric, blades of Durva grass, curds, ordinary leaves, flowers, betel-leaves, arecanuts, auspicious roots, unbroken rice, sprouts of barley, Gorocana, parched paddy and lovely blossoms of the Basil plant. Exceedingly charming gold vases, painted with various colours, looked like nests built by Cupid's own birds. Auspicious perfumes defied all description. In this way all the queens prepared all sorts of auspicious articles. They got ready rows of lights arranged in various devices for waving round their sons and with a cheerful heart sang melodious festal strains.