________________
OCTOBER, 1907.)
A REPORT ON THE PANJAB HILL TRIBES.
303
Men and women of every tribe attend the fairs at this time, except women who observe the pard& system. Persons of all ages are among the spectators.
162. The dates for all the festivals are fixed, except the Somâvati Amavas and Satya Nêrôin.
163. No festival is celebrated to commemorate any season.
184. Food is given to the Brahmans in the name of the dead on the date corresponding to the death of the deceased, and this is termed tithi shrddh. This is done by a few persons and is not a general custom.
186 All the Hindu festivals are celebrated by the people generally. However, some of the festivals pertaining to thakur dwdrds, as mentioned in the above table, are celebrated by some persons, while others do not observe them.
188. The Hindus do not observe the festivals of the Saraogis.
187. There is no festival where boys and girls desirous of marriage meet and select their consorts.
188. Among certain classes the festival of Karva Chauth is considered to be for the wife and husband only. 189, Wine is used in the fairs held on Baisakhi, Skönt, and Holi festivals.
XLV.- Objects of Worship. 170. There are no ghosts or spirits who are considered to have any connection with sticks. However, the sticks, lances, and bagles of a god are honoured like the god himself.
171. The silver sticks, lances, bagles, and bells of a god are thought sacred. It is also believed that these things possess supernatural powers.
172. Wood and stone are worshipped, for they are considered to be the abodes of gyde.
XLVI. - Animism, Spirit Worship. 178. The people believe in spirits living in rivers, hills, trees, ruins, and in clean and unclean places.
(a) Yama (god of death ) is supposed to live in rivers.
(6). Bdolis, brooks and springs are supposed to be the abodes of jal paris (water nymphs ) and matris.
(6) Kali is supposed to live in hills. (d) Spirits of all kinds are supposed to live on trees. (.) Banshir spirits live in ruins of old buildings, or valleys or mountains,
V) Vicious spirits live in dirty places, and virtuous spirits or gods in clean and pure localities.
174. A detailed account of the worship of ghosts is given below. If a person is laid up with some disease and does not improve with medicine, a Brâhman is called and is asked to exorcise the disease. He indicates the kind of ghost, if any, with which the man is possessed. The following are the signs of possession by ghosts :
(1) The patient seems comparatively comfortable during the day, but as the night advancos, his restlessness increases. He gains composure with the passing of night and coming
of day.
