Note 86 — Chapter III · DISEASE DEITIES.

Every bhuvā is required to propitiate his favourite goddess every third year, the ceremony which is then performed being called Khad-Khadya-besādvi. This is performed either during the Nav-rātra holidays or during the bright half of either the month of Māgh or Chaitra. All the bhuvās in the village are invited on the occasion, when there is gānjā-smoking or bhāng-drinking, partly at night. After the supper which follows this party, all the bhuvās gather together and go into convulsive fits till they are almost suffocated. Cocoanuts are then dedicated and cracked before the mātā, and the kernel is distributed among those present. The party then break up.86