Indian Antiquary Vol 60

Author(s): Richard Carnac Temple, Charles E A W Oldham, S Krishnaswami Aiyangar, Devadatta Ramkrishna Bhandarka
Publisher: Swati Publications

Page 215

OCTOBER, 1931)
THE GAYDANR FESTIVAL AND ITS PARALLELS
187
THE GAYDANR FESTIVAL AND ITS PARALLELS.
(A Bihar Cattle Festival and the Cult of the Mother Goddess.)
BY KALIPADA MITRA, MA., B.L., PRINCIPAL, D. J. COLLEGE, MONCHYR. EVERY year on the day following the diwali, that is to say, the first lunar day of the bright fortnight of Kartik (Hindi, Kartik sudi) an interesting festival, known as the gäydant, is cele. brated in the afternoon. On the 18th of Ootober, 1925, I was invited by the local [Monghyrl Goalas to be present at this show. At about 3 P.M. & confused noise of many voices with occasional hilarious ejaculations, an increasingly audible gurgle born of mingled steps, human and bovine, treading on the dry leaves in the mango-grove, a low drumming on the tom-tom, plaintively monotonous, relieved from time to time by saltant strokes, the hallooing to the cows to exhort them to be of more decorous demeanour in the solemn procession--all this threw me into an expectancy hitherto unfelt.
Then was there a sally into the improvised arena of cows gaily stamped with circular stains of red and blue on their hides, their horns glistening with oil and red ochre, led by new, bright-coloured strings, now lowing, now stamping, now heaving their heads up in the air, with their calves frisking about in mingled joy and fear, with the Goalas arrayed in their best and beaming with pride for their animals, which they keenly regarded, while the confused hubbub kept up the excitement of the soene-a truly bucolic spectacle that might well delight the heart of a Virgil,
A puny pig that had not seen many a moon, adorned with a chaplet of flowers about its neck, was then led in. It was secured by cords attached to its hind feet, and was trem. bling all over and scanning the soene with weary eyes, vaguely divining the import of the impending orgy.
Soon followed a chaog-the cows were set on the poor animal. They skipped and frisked about, aiming their pointed horns at the devoted victim. Each successful stroke was greeted with many an admiring shout, which forthwith developed into mad yells and frantic huzzahs. The poor pig, bound as it was with the cord that prevented escape, bravely struggled for lifenow dodging, now slinking, -Squeaking vainly for reprieve. Again and again the infuriated animals were urged with shouts and physical force to make at the animal. Whistling and hooting, halloos and hurrahs, crying and squeaking rose and fell with the hum and jerk of the tom-tom notes; and swung and swayed, swayed and swung the excited multitude. Long had ebbed away the water of life from the tiny little thing, and yet and yet again the lifeless mass was thrown before the cattle to be trodden and trampled upon. Verily was this scene a terribly cruel affair, and many & time did I wish it were stopped.
The frantic fray was at an end, the cows were led away, and then followed a sombre proceeding. The Chamar, tom-tom beater and three or four Goalds improvised a resting place and put the dead animal on it north-and-south-wise. They then made a fire with cowdung cakes, and threw incense therein. Sitting round the carcase, one of them poured country wine into the mouth of the dead animal, uttered some plaintive and dolorous chants over it, that sounded like a veritable dirge. They smoked ganja and passed the chilam (pipe-bowl) round. They then made inyooations to Goraiya Baba and Jethu Baba and some other cattle guardians. The whole proceeding had the air of a crude but solemn worship or funeral service. (The Hindus place dead bodies north and south at the time of cre. mation.) They out off the left ear of the pig and took it singing to the courtyard of my cowshed (bathan) and buried it therein. On enquiring of an experienced Goald as to what the significance was of the burying of the sundered ear of the pig in the bathan, I got the reply that he could not really tell, but that it was a very ancient practice. The carcase was then taken away by the Chamar to be eaten. The funeral service had a sacramental air.
During the proceedings I noticed my servant taking a cow of mine that had calved scarcely s month before, and setting her on the pig. I thought that this was to enhance the excitement of the game, as such cows, being anxious about their new-born offspring, are