34 Wilber Theodore Elmore 



first day there are processions ; the temple is circumambulated 

 three times, and all night long the story tellers stir up the people 

 with the tales of the prowess of the olden times. The second 

 day is a day of feasting. This takes place under a sacred jammi 

 tree^ which is thought to be the habitation of spirits and demons. 

 After the feast there is story-telling as before. The third day 

 the processions and story-telling continue. On this day some 

 male member of the priest's family, disguised as a woman, goes 

 about the village impersonating Gangamma, the especial goddess 

 of the shepherd caste. He is proceeded by a Madiga horn-blower, 

 and receives many offerings. 



The fourth day the interest increases. All the women who 

 have made vows, fast until the afternoon. Then kokas are spread 

 from each house door to the centre of the village, and the women 

 come walking on these, each carrying a platter of well-prepared 

 food called ugumanchi hhojanam. After all have come to the 

 place of meeting the drums beat wildly, horns are blown, then 

 the chief story-teller steps forward, and as the noise lulls, his loud 

 chanting may be heard as he tells of the blood-stirring deeds of 

 former days. 



The drums beat and the horns blow again, and the people dance 

 in a frenzy of excitement. One of the story-tellers now steps 

 forward and with a large needle pierces the skin of his left side, 

 drawing the thread through. This is the signal for other men 

 who have made this vow to do the same. The crowd then forms 

 into a turbulent procession, and carrying the offerings proceeds 

 to the temple of Usuramma. As the people advance the washer- 

 men spread kokas for them to walk upon, while a canopy of 

 similar cloths is carried over those who have made vows. 



After arriving at the temple they march around it three times, 

 still walking on the cloths. Then coming before the idol, all 

 prostrate themselves and worship it. Those who have made 

 vows come into the temple. The Brahman and shepherd priests 

 take the offerings and after presenting them to the goddess, re- 



3 Mimosa suma. 



34 



