43 2 Voijaye of the Novara. 



fortunately not confined to the interior of the temple, but took 

 place in the streets, through which, during the period the 

 festival lasted, immense processions of Hindoos, praying, sing- 

 ing, and dancing, used to pass every evening about 11 p.m. on 

 their way from one temple to another, so that we were in no 

 want of picturesque objects. First, a band of musicians would 

 lead the way, with the peculiar little drum or tom-tom, whin- 

 ing pipes, and blaring clarinets. It was more like the noise of 

 a lot of children's instruments than music. Next came a 

 Hindoo riding on a gaily-bedizened ■ ox, after whom appeared 

 a number of girls and ** Bayaderes,'" dressed in white clothes, 

 their hair richly dressed, and with rings through their nostrils, 

 while the flaps of their ears were adorned with richly-gemmed 

 ear-rings hanging down to the neck, and moving both hands 

 and feet as they danced before the sacred figure, which was 

 drawn along by 24 sturdy believers in Vishnu. The image 

 was placed on a dais thickly overspread with flowers, filagree 

 work, and small mirrors, approached by steps, and w^ith a 

 parasol outspread overhead j in a vehicle in front was a sort of 

 figure dressed up in flowers. On either side a multitude of 

 torch-bearers strode along, with sulphurous lights and other 

 means of illumination, or iron frames, on which were disposed 

 in pyramidal form or like a bow, from 7 to 13 fireballs, 

 which, let off" at intervals alternately with Bengal lights and 

 rockets, formed a veritable ocean of light. A tub filled with 

 cocoa-nut oil was dragged behind, from which the cotton wicks 

 were kept constantly replenished, so that the flames continued 



