Wedding Wailing Ballad

On the early morning of the very day when the lass is to get married， she ought to circle three times， in a wedding gown， around the central pillar of the Tibetan house possessed by her parents， and in the meanwhile an enchanter or an elder along with her mother sings verses of departure respectively. Those verses mainly target at assuring the bride of the fair circumstances in the home of her parents， leaving her nothing to be anxious for； and at exhorting the bride to do her own bit responsively in her husband’s family after wedding. Following are the ballad they sing with love and care：

When the rising sun flames the eastern sky this morning，

You are to leave your parents to whom you owe deep gratitude；

To depart from your childhood playmates；

To ride on a sturdy galloping horse

Hitting the road to your husband’s.

Regard your husband’s family as no strangers，

They’d be your own family within a year，

You’d be the hostess in five years.

Treat your parents-in-law as your own parents

Live in perfect harmony with new family and neighbors.

Show respect for the elder and solicitude for children.

Work industriously in and out.

Treat people with earnestness.

In high regard should you hold the seniors.

With substantial patience should you listen intently to the kindhearted.

On should you keep in doing good with a fine conscience.

Bear it in mind—respect for seniors， solicitude for kids.

Three pieces of benediction to you，

My daughter， Buddha-blessed sweetie：

Today is a propitious day，

A day when the best of luck comes to you；

A day when your happiness happens.

On the fertile earth being bumper grain harvest；

In the wonderful place being clear springs，

Bright sunshine in the orient is a harbinger of great fortune；

The sun up above the hilltop bodes you good；

The pagoda built on the mountainside promises a gay wedding；

Offerings at the foot of the hill heralds good news.

On this very auspicious day，

May all go well with you；

May your new surroundings show its tenderness to you；

May good luck and happiness to you.

Buddha-blessed lass，

We wish you all good

In the new phase of your life.

Wish you the luck

Of keeping thousands of steeds in the stable；

Wish you the fortune

Of raising thousands of yaks in the cowshed；

Wish you the blessings

Of breeding thousands of white sheep in the pen.

Wish you incessant fortune overflowing the walls of your yard.

Wish you overbrimming bliss to enjoy.

Hope good luck lingers， for ever， in your patio area unwilling to leave.