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FOLKLORE OF THE KONKAN
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is called Girjoba. Hands and feet made of silver coins and fruit are offered to the tree. wood are also offered by persons who make These offerings are taken by the Bráhman vows to do so when their hands or legs are priest, who explains to them the modes of affected by any disease, At Ibhrampur in worship. The Bráhman priest is also given the Ratnagiri District offerings of colton some money as a gift. This Vrata, i.e., vow, is thread, copper coins, and fruit are made to | observed by women by fasting for three sucBanyan and Pipal trees on the full moon day cessive days, from the 13th to the 15th day of of the month of Jestha (June) and on every the bright balf of Jestha (June). The Pipal Saturday in the month of Shráman (August). tree is worshipped daily by some men and
At Vavanje in the Panwel taluka of the women of the Brahman caste. Women walk Kolába District, offerings of coins, etc., to round this tree for a hundred and eight times sacred trees are made at the time of Parmani or more daily. Some persons hold a thread (a festival). For instance, when the no moon ceremony for the Pipal tree in order to obtain day falls on Monday, the women worship the a son, and worship the tree for a certain Pipal tree, and on the full moon day of Jestha period. It is worshipped with fruit and cop(June) they worship the Banyan tree. The per coins, Wooden cradles are also offered to custom prevails of the worship of a well by the tree. Wells are worshipped on auspicious women after their delivery. A woman, after days such as Parmani by women of the upper completing the period of her confinement or castes. At Padghe in the Thána District the ceremonial impurity, is taken to a well, from Banyan tree is worshipped on the full moon which she has to bring home water, and is re- day of Jestha, and the Pipal is worsnipped quired to worship the well with the following every Saturday in the month of Skráwan niaterials, vis - cotton thread, copper coins, (August). The Pipal tree is not worshipped cocoanuts and such other fruit as can be had before the performance of its thread ceremony, on the occasion. 3 At Varsai in the Pen taluka and its thread ceremony is not performed till the of the Kolába District, offerings of cotton tree bears at least one thousand leaves. cloth, copper coins, cocoanuts, betelnuts and At Kolhápur, the Banyan and Pipal trees plantains are made to the Banyan, Pipas, and
are considered very holy, and offerings of Umbar trees, and also to holy wells. The rags, coins, etc., are made to them. It is a Pipal, Tulsi, and Umbar trees are worshipped custom amorg the Hindu women to worship daily by women in this district, while the Ban-the Banyan tree on the full moon day of Jesyan is worshipped on the full moon day of tha. Offerings of cloth and fruit are made Jestha (June). The materials of worship to this tree, and copper or silver coins are given are : -' rice, fruits, water, sandalpaste, flowers, as dakahana. Some women make a small momangoes and jack fruits
del in gold, silver, or copper of the Banyan At Málád in the Thána District, the Ban- tree or of its leaf, and present it to the Brahyan tree is worshipped by women of the Dwi- man priest along with a present of money. jas, i.e., of the twice born castes, on the full | All these rites are required to be strictly permoon day of the month of Jestha. Copper or formed as enjoined in the Shastras,
1 School Master, Anjarle, Ratnagiri.
3 School Master, Ibhrampur, Ratnagiri. 3 School Master, Vavanje, Kolába.
• School Master, Varsai, Kolába 5 School Master, Máléd, Thána
. School Master, Padghe, Thána. TRÁo she Shelle, Kolhipur.
