﻿XX. 



ON TWO HINDU FESTIVALS, 



AND THE 



INDIAN SPHINX. 



BY THE LATE COLONEL PEARSE, MAY 12, 1785. 



I BEG leave to point out to the Society, that 

 the Sunday before last was the festival of Bha- 

 'vani, which is annually celebrated by the Gopas 

 and all other Hindus who keep horned cattle for 

 use or profit. On this feast they visit gardens, erect a 

 pole in the fields, and adorn it with pendants and 

 garlands. The Sunday before last was our first of 

 May, on (vhich the same rites are performed by the 

 same class of people in England, where it is well 

 known to be a relique of ancient superstition in that 

 country : it should seem, therefore, that the religion 

 of the east and the old religion of Britain had a strong 

 affinity. Bhavani has another festival ; but that is not 

 kept by any one set of Hindus in particular, and this 

 is appropriated to one class of people. This is con- 

 stantly held on the ninth of Baisac'h ; which does not 

 always fall on our first of May, as it did this year. 

 Those members of the Society who are acquainted 

 with, the rules which regulate the festivals, may be 

 able to give better information concerning this point. 

 I only mean to point out the resemblance of the rites 

 performed here and in England, but must leave abler 

 hands to investigate the matter further, if it should 

 be thought deserving of the trouble. I find that the 

 festival which I have mentioned, is one of the most 

 ancient among the Hindus, 



