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148
THE FOLKLORE OF GUJARAT
goes with the bridegroom's procession and plays jokes with the parents of both the bride and bridegroom. His doing so is supposed to bless the bridal pair with a long life and a large family.1
On the marriage day, after the ceremony of propitiating the nine planets has been performed in the bride's house, in some castes three, and in others one sambelu, is kept near the spot where the planets are worshipped. Next, five unwidowed women of the family hold the sambelus and thrash them five or seven times on the floor repeating the words "On the chest of the ill-wisher of the host." The sambelus are bound together by a thread.2
If a woman has to take part in an auspicious ceremony on the fourth day of her monthly period, she is made to thresh one maund of rice with a sambelu. Her fourth day is then considered as the fifth and she becomes eligible for taking part in the ceremony.8
The plough is considered sacred, because it is the chief implement for cultivating the soil. It is worshipped on the full-moon day of Shravan which is known as a Balev holidad, the worship being called Grahan-pujan.
Some people consider the plough sacred because Sita, the consort of Ram, was born of the earth by the touch of a plough. Others hold it sacred as it was used as a weapon by Baldev, the brother of the god Krishna.
On account of the sanctity which attaches to the plough, it forms part of the articles, with which a bridegroom is received in the marriage pandal by the bride's mother.
It is related that king Janak ploughed the soil on which he had to perform a sacrifice. Hence it has become a practice to purify with a plough the spot on which a sacrifice is to be performed,
1 The School Master of Zinzavada. 3 The School Master of Lilapur.
5 The School Master of Ganod
The School Master of Lilapur.
In some places, on the Balev day, a number of persons gather together near a pond, and each of them fills an earthen jar with the water of the pond. Next, one of the party is made to stand at a long distance from the others with a small plough in his hands. The others then run a race towards the latter. He who wins the race is presented with molasses and a cocoanut.8
It is customary among Brahmans to perform the worship known as Baleviàn after the performance of a thread ceremony. In Native States, the prime minister and other State officials and clerks join the ceremony, the principal function of the ceremony being performed by the prime minister. In villages, this function is performed by the headman of the villago. The party go in procession to a neighbouring village or a pond where an earthen image of Ganpati besmeared with red lead is installed on a red cloth two feet square. Near this image are installed the nine planets, represented by nine heaps of corn, on each of which is placed a betelnut. This is called the installation of Baleviàn. A plough about two feet in length is kept standing near the Baleviàn with its end buried in the ground. The prime minister or the village headman worships the plough, after which, four Kumbhàrs or potters wash themselves, and holding four jars on their heads, run a race. Each of the Kumbhàrs is named after one of the four months of the rainy season. He who wins the race is presented with the plough. The expenses of the ceremony are paid from the State treasury or the village fund."
According to a popular saying, a broom should not be kept erect or trampled under foot. This indicates that brooms are held sacred.
The School Master of Todia.
4 The School Masters of Dhànk and Kotda Sangani.
6 The School Master of Dadvi.
8 The School Master of Zinzuvada.
The School Master of Todia.
Among Hindus women in menses are considered impure for four days.
