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THE FOLKLORE OF GUJARAT
have observed a row in her honour for a four or five children, then his wife and son, and a son being born to him, he dedi- lastly himself. In reward for his selfcated certain lands to her ; but they are no devotion the goddess faced towards Miani longer in the possession of the attendants, and no mishaps are believed to take place in
(12) Hanuman.--On a mound of earth the village, there is an old worn-out image of this god. (15) Hinglaj.---This goddess has a place People sometimes light a lamp there, offer of worship a hundred and fifty miles from cocoanuts and plaster the image with red- Karachi in Sind, to which her devotees and lead and oil. A sādhu of the Māragi sect, a believers make pilgrimage. Koli by birth, acts as pujari, 1
In the village of Jäsdān, in Kathiawar, (13) Shaktă (or shakti).-This is a Girasia there is an ancient shrine of Kālu-Pir in goddess attended upon by a Chumväliä Koli. whose memory there are two sepulchres On the Navaratra days, as well as on the covered with costly fabrics, and a large flag following day, Girasias worship this goddess, floats over the building. Both Hindus and and if necessary observe vows in her name. Musalmans believe in this saint, and offer
(14) Harsidh.—Gāndhavi in Bardā and cocoanuts, sweatmeats and money to his Ujjain are the places dedicated to this soul. A part of the offering being passed goddess. There is a tradition connected through the smoke of frankincense, burning with her that her image stood in a place in a brazier near the saint's grave in the of worship facing the sea on Mount Koyalo shrine, the rest is returned to the offerer, in Gandhavi. She was believed to sink or Every morning and evening a big kettleswallow all the vessels that sailed by. A drum is beaten in the Pir's honour.3 Bania named Jagadusā, knowing this, pro- Other minor deities are Shikotār, believed pitinted her by the performance of religious biy sailors to be able to protect them from austerities. On being asked what boon he the dangers of the deep; Charmathvati, the wanted from her, he requested her to descend goddess of the Rabaris ;5 Macho, the god of from her mountain-seat. She agreed on the the shepherds ;5 Meldi, in whom Vaghries Bania promising to offer a living victim for (bird-catchers) beliere ;6 Pithad, the faevery footstep she took in descending. vourite god of Dheds ;Dhavdi, who is Thus he sacrificed one victim after another worshipped by a hajām (barber):* until the number of victims he had brought Khodiar;! Géla, Dadamo," Kshetrapal," was exhausted. He then first offered his Chāvad," Mongal, 10 Arad, 10 Palan, Lu Vir
Mr. N. M. Dave, Schoolmaster, Sinka.
Mr. D. K. Pandya, Schoolmaster, Dhhank. The tendency to fraternise as much in belief as in nationality is a notable feature of Indian life. The saying goes Hindu Musalman ék Ram biji Rehman. The Hindu and Musalman are not far apart: one is the follower of Rām, the other of Rehman (the most compassionate -a Kuranic name of Allah). Again says another proverb: The Hindu and Musalman are as closely connected as the breast and the skirt of a garment Hindu né Musalman moli di man jo vehevär). The Hindu pays homage to the Pir, the Muslim repays the compliment by holding some of his Hindu brother's lower class deities, such as Vaital and Kali and Amba, in awe. The Hindu worships and breaks cocoanuts before the Moharram taasias-the Musalman responds by showing a sneaking sort of a regard for the Holi, whom he believes to have been a daughter of the patriarch Abraham. This reciprocal good fellowship in time of political agitation, like those of the Indian Mutiny, results in the chapati ", or unleavened bread loaf, being considered a symbol to be honoured both by Muslim and Hindu: and in more recent times, as during the plague troubles in Allahabad and Cawnpore, shows itself in the Muslim garlanding the Hindu on a holiday, and the Hindus setting up sherbat-stalls for Musalmans on an Id day.-ban Bahadur Fazlullah.
Mr. J. N. Patel, Schoolmaster, Jasdan. • Mr. Jaggannath Hirji, Schoolmaster, Chok.
Mr. Nandlal Kalidas, Schoolmaster, Chhatrasa. * Mr. O. A. Mehta, Schoolmaster, Lakhapadar. Mr. N. J. Bhatt, Moti Marad, * Mr. J. D. Khaodhar, Sayala,
Mr. N. M. Dave, Sanka, 10 Mr. N. D. Vora, Rajpara.
