Vol, af Bes 10,] Miniature Tank Worship in Bengal. 50> 
his hair on, a: camp branch (Michela champaca) and will spread 
his clothes on the large house. He will eat from a golden plate, 
_will eat, fried food dish after dish, and good curry, cup after cup, 
and quantities of acid things, curds, sweetmeats, etc., ete, 
0 Sun, rise up with thy brillant rays. We cannot get up 
because of the mist. The five strata of the mist keep back the rays. 
Where will the Sun rise ? By the ghat of the Brahmag’s house. 
The Brahman women are very clever and offer sacred thread 
morning after morning. : ee 
) Sun, rise up, put a new thread round thy neck, take a red 
stick in thy hand and acloth red like the flower of the cotton tree 
on thy shoulder. Where will the Sun rise? He will rise over the 
every house; we yive the Sun’s wife a persian +477. ango 
blossoms appear. in eyery house ; we give the Sun’s wife a benares 
sari, etc., etc. ango blossoms come in profusion; we give the 
at—the. ghat of the Baidya’s house. ‘The Baidyas worship 
there at dawn, The water used in their worship rises to the sur- 
“face of the tank,” etc. etc. (mutatis mutandis for other castes ). 
_ The-Magh Snan Brata is similar to that last described and is 
also observed in Eastern. Bengal... The Earth, Sun and Moon are, 
however, only worshipped on: the last day. On the other days the 
tank is worshipped with flowers, plums and durbba grass, and an 
altar, built round a small plantain tree beside the tank, is adorned 
with similar offerings: bp ae 
“The Parnamasi Brata takes place in Mymensingh on the day 
of the Magh. full moon. A plum: and a binna plant are p! 
beside a miniature tank and worshipped with. rice and eatables 
by women for the welfare of their children. Pictures are made of 
rice paste on the ground near the tank... aie tenet ol. 
- One of the most curious forms of tank worship: is the Pacai 
Nistar which takes place in Darbhanga in Caitra.. It is per- 
+ shee formed by. marri 
| __,Caitra — dug. Seat 3 
: - Pacat Wigtee: _. brother of the worshipper or, in his absence, 
by her husband’s brother. Bushes are placed round it and a pole 
. similar: to those in full-sized tanks is planted. in. the centre. 
- After fasting for twenty-four hours, the girl takes her seat facing 
t 
“of Gauri, made of turmeric. In front. of it is pla | 
Jeaf containing an offering of arwa rice, plantains .and sugar. 
