I 



1917.] North Indian Agricultural Ceremonies. 37 



Then we have to deal with the ceremonies connected with 

 the measurement of the cleaned grain, and the vow of silence 

 which is strictly observed during the performance thereof. 

 Throughout Northern India, there exists the curious custom of 

 placing a round cake of cowdung, which is known in the dis- 

 tricts to the east of Allahabad as badhawan ( ^re^r or cj^Ujj ) 



or <' that which gives the increase" on the top of a heap (ras) of 

 grain to protect it from the evil eye of "eye-biters" and for the 



sake of good luck in order that the grains may increase (*»). 



Sometimes, a magic circle is drawn either with fire or water all 

 round this heap, the man making the circle observing the 

 strictest silence. In the district of Bareilly, however, the cir- 

 cular line is drawn with cow-dung (a spirit-scarer).* In the 

 districts situated to the west of Allahabad, this covering placed 

 on a heap of winnowed grain goes under* the appellation of 



Chhatur ( w^T or ^I<^ from the Hindi WtK or y^ an umbrella) 



and consists of a blade of grass, or a dry branch of arhar or 

 pigeon pea (Cajanus indicus) with several (usually five) project- 

 ing twigs, on each of which a small lump of cow-dung is put, or 

 a flower of the akh or madar (Calotropis gigantea — a sacred plant). 

 In the Bareilly district, an iron sickle, a blade of the sacred 

 kusa grass and a twig of the gigantic swallow-wort, with a 

 cow-dung cake in a cleft stick [Note that all these four articles 

 are spirit -sea rers] are put on the top of the heap; while four 

 eowdung cakes are placed at the four corners thereof. 3 Some- 

 times, a spear is stuck into the ground — not on, but at the 

 side of, the heap. Occasionally, an artificial flower is placed 

 at a short distance from the bottom of the heap. The Chhatur 

 is put on the heap of grain with the same object as the 

 badhawan is, namely, to prevent the harmful effects of the evil 

 eye or of the praises of any casual visitor. * 



1 Those, who scoff at the superstitious belief in the efficacy of the 

 badhawan as a charm for increasing the heaped-up grains, recite the follow- 

 ing satirical stanza : — 



Translation. 



1. The world is mad and worships the evil spirits 

 out of avaricious motives, 



2. And places the badhawan (on the heap of 

 grain), no matter whether (the heaped-up grains) 



increase or not. 



2 Bareilly Settlement Report. By S. M. Moens. Allahabad: 1874. 

 p. 78. 



8 Op. cit. , p. 78. 



4 Elliot's Supplement to the Glossary of Indian Terms. (Agra Edition 



