Chapter XI · GENERAL.

Various ceremonies are performed by cultivators at the time of ploughing the soil, sowing, reaping and harvesting. These ceremonies differ in details in different localities.

In order that insects and worms may not spoil the corn stored in a granary or in earthen jars, the ashes of the fire of the Holi or leaves of the nim tree are mixed with it.

To drive away insects, a ceremony called Adagho Badagho or Mariyun is performed on the Divāli holiday. It is as follows:—

When Vaishnavas make offerings to their gods, the doors of the shrine are closed.

There are various legends current among the people regarding the origin of the Holi holiday. The chief versions are as follows:—

2. A demon named Hiraniāksha had a sister named Holika and a son named Prahlād. Hiraniāksha bore great enmity to Rāma, while Prahlād was his devotee. Hiraniāksha did not like his son’s devotion to Rāma, and told him several times to give it up, and even threatened to take his life. But Prahlād did not swerve an inch from the path of his devotion. At last, being desperate, Hiraniāksha decided to kill him, and entrusted his sister with the mission. Holika raised a big pile of cow-dung cakes, set it on fire, and seated herself on the pile, taking Prahlād in her lap. But through the grace of Rāma, Prahlād escaped uninjured while Holika was reduced to ashes.

Although the Holi itself falls on the full-moon day of Fālgun the rejoicings connected with it commence from the first day of that month. The principal feature of the rejoicings consists in indulging in indecent and vulgar songs and language. Vulgar songs or fāgs in honour of the goddess Holi are also sung. Songs are composed abusing each caste, and sung addressing passers by, by groups of boys who have full license during the Holi holidays to indulge in all sorts of pranks and abuses.

Some make wooden blocks with engravings of vulgar and indecent words, dip them in coloured water, and press them on the clothes of passers by.

The day following the Holi is known as Dhul Pādavo or Dhuleti. On this day people indulge in the throwing of cow-dung, black pigments, urine, mud, coloured water and red powder.50

Sometimes contests are held between two parties of boys in singing vulgar songs. The contest commences by one of the parties singing a song. The other party responds to it by singing another song, which is generally more indecent than the song sung first. The contest goes on like this, and the party which fails to respond to its rival is said to be defeated.53

The immoral practices described above are only to be seen among low caste people, and even their women take part in these practices.

There are many other superstitious beliefs held by people in connection with the Holi.

Some believe that if salt heated over the Holi fire is given to cattle it protects them against epidemics.64

No ceremonies are performed when a boy attains puberty, probably because in the case of boys the change is not so marked as in the case of girls.