78 OF THE ORIGIIC OF 



or the 25th of 3iarch ; the statue of Cybele was 

 carried about in procession, and the attending 

 crowds assumed to themselves whatever rank, cha- 

 racter, or dress, their fancy led them to prefer : it 

 was a kind of masquerade, full of mirth and frolic. 

 In fact, it was the Earth, under the name of 

 Cybele, which was worshipped at the com- 

 mencement of that genial season, when she re- 

 ceives from the Sun those vivyfying rays, which are 

 so adapted to the production of fruits and flowers. 

 Let this ceremony he compared with the Hindu ce- 

 lebration of the Hiili, at the same period of the 

 year. The epithet of Purple is constantly given to 

 the spring by tlie Roman poets, in allusion to the 

 blossoms, which nature, as it were in sport, scat- 

 ters over the Earth with such variety and profusion. 

 The Hindus design the same idea in the purple 

 powder (Abir), which they throw about at each 

 other with so much sportive pleasantry : the objects 

 of worship with the Hindus are the Earth and Fire; 

 that genial warmth, which pervades all nature at 

 that peiiod of the year : the licentiousness of the 

 sono's and dances, at this season, was intended to 

 express the effects of tliat warmth on all animated 

 objects. 



The Hindus have likewise their masquerading 

 processions, in which Gods and Goddesses, llajas 

 and Ranis, are represented; and the ceremonies are 

 concluded, by burning tlie past or deceased year, 

 and welcomino; the renovation of nature. 



Of the Va'stu Pu'ja' o( the Hindus, and the Vesta 

 of the Romans. 



On the last day of Pausfi, the Hindus make sweet- 

 meats, with Til, ov scsainicm: it is therefore called 

 Tiliasancrant. It is the day when landholders wor- 

 ship the Earth and Fire. The sect of Siva sacrifice 

 a sheep to the Earth ; and the Faishnavas offer up 



