Vol. iN sf 10.] Miniature Tank Worship in Bengal. 499° 
woman of the house, who supervises the ceremony throughout, 
tells the story of the Karttik Pukur:—There were once five 
performing the Karttik Pukur Brata. In answer to her en- 
quiries they told her that by performing the ceremony they 
could obtain anything they desired from the guardian of the tank, 
her clothes, accused her of an intrigue and at last informed 
her husband. Her brothers then took her to task, and, on 
being told the story, decided to watch secretly in order to: 
and sisters, but at the last moment found that she had no 
e 
absent, cut the woman’s child to pieces in order to test the 
powers of the god. The servant, returning with the fuel, met 
them. Gratified by this attention they requested her to ask 
a favour of them. On her replying that she desired nothing, 
they told her that her mistress had killed her child, and said 
that she would find it alive. The miracle was performed, an 
a woman whose husband is alive, in the name of the cow, of 
the mother, of the mother-in-law and of the worshipper herself 
in that order. 
On the fifteenth day some paddy is spread on the banks of the 
yh ‘ 
rd. ay. 
On the last day of the brata at the end of the morning’s. 
observances, a she- is plac across the tank with its fore- 
feet and hind-feet on opposite banks, and the worshipper is 
to pass under it, assisted by her brother, or, in his absence, 
made 
by her brother-in-law. 
