176 A HINDU FESTIVAL 



were. Yet there is always something cheering in the 

 sight of untutored mirth and exuberant animal joy 

 breaking out and triumphing over the sadness of 

 life and the monotony of lowly toil ; and I confess 

 that I find a pleasing side to this festival of the Holi. 

 I like it best as I have seen it in a fishing village on 

 the west coast of India. 



At first sight you would not suspect the black 

 and brawny Koli of much gaiety, but there is deep 

 down in him a spring of mirth and humour which, 

 " when wine and free companions kindle him," can 

 break out into the most boisterous hilarity and 

 jocundity and even buffoonery, throwing aside all 

 trammels of convention and decorum. His women 

 folk, too, though they do not go out of their proper 

 place in the social system, assert themselves vigor- 

 ously within it, and are gay and vivacious and well 

 aware of their personal attractions. So the Koli 

 village looks forward to the Holi and makes timely 

 preparation for it. 



The night before the poornima, or full moon, of 

 the month Phalgoon arrives, each trim fishing 

 boat is stored with flowers and leafy branches, all 

 the flags that can be mustered and a drum ; then 

 the whole village goes a-fishing. Next morning 

 each housewife gets up early to decorate her house 

 and trick out herself and her children. For though 

 the Koli is the most naked of men, his whole work- 

 a-day costume consisting of one rag about equal in 

 amplitude to half a good pocket-handkerchief, his wife 



