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302
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
[OCTOBER, 1907.
XLIV. - Some Details of the Festivals. 101. A brief account of every festival has been given in the table above. Some details are now given.
(1) Lohff khicht (a kind of food) is prepared and is distributed among relatives. The people play with balls in every village or in the temple of the god. The saints and Brahmans are given rice, pulse, and money. Some people perform oblations in their homes. The priests worship the doors of their customers.
(2) Basant Panchami. This festival is celebrated in the court of the Chief only. The túris (musicians) sing and play apon instruments and get rewards. The people sprinkle coloured water over one another. Some men and women wear yellow scarves, but it is not & general custom.
(3) Shiv Betri. - Fasting is observed during the day. In the night an image of Siva is made of clay. A coloured square is prepared, and the god is placed in the middle of it. Cakes are placed on all sides round the square. The god is worshipped throughout the night. Songs are sung, and masic played. A goat is sacrificed. In the morning the god is thrown into water. The cakes are given to a Brihman, and distributed amongst the brotherhood.
(4) New-year's Day. - On the first of Chết, túris (musicians) sing songs and play on instruments, and receive gifts. The Brahmans foretell the events of the year and get rewards. The túris go from village to village and entertain people throughout the month of Chet.
(5) Holt is celebrated in the Chief's court only. Coloured water is sprinkled and songs are sung. All the men taking part in the Holi are entertained with a feast.
(6) Nor&tre. --The goddess is worshipped and sacrifices are offered to her.
(7) Baisakhi. On the 1st day of the month the priest worships the gates of his customers, who give him, according to their capacity, grain and money. During the whole of the month sacrifices are offered to the god on different dates. The people practise archery at a fair.
(8) Sankrant Bawani (first day of the month SÅwan). - Wreaths of flowers are thrown round the necks of quadrapeds. Rich foods are prepared and distributed among the family and relations and guests. Fairs are held throughout the month in the temples of gods. All the people of the neighbourhood gather at the fairs, and dance and sing during the day. In the evening they go to feast at home or at their relatives' houses.
(9) Nag Panchami. In some places fairs are held at the temples of gods. The people keep awake the whole night, and hill songs are sung and instruments are played upon. In the morning all the people present are fed. The fair at this time is called Jágra or Bhadronjú.
(10) Nor&tr 8. -The goddess is worshipped. Masquerades are held in the night. Music is played, and in some places is called batri or karill. The next day is the Das@hra. A man impersonating Ramchandar drives in a chariot and conquers Lanka.
(11) Short or sadr. - Each man makes an image of clay, puts flowers on it, and places it before his honse. Rich food is prepared on the first day of the month. In the evening illuminations are made all around the image, and it is worshipped.
(12) Diwali.-Every person illominates his house. Food is prepared and distributed among relatives. The people amuse themselves with gambling. A heap of wood is kept burning all night, and all the villagers gather round it and abuse the natives of adjoining villages, who in return abuse them. I he people remain awake during the night and sing the songs of Diwala, like the katha (recitation). A song is fixed for this festival
(No answer was apparently given to Question 160
